The SECURES Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to develop new federal safety standards requiring seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of the law's enactment. The bill specifically asks the Transportation Department to consider lap-and-shoulder belt systems (three-point seat belts) as the standard, citing recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that such belts provide the best protection for student passengers. The proposed rulemaking should also examine innovative safety technologies like seat belt detection systems and reminder alerts, as well as lessons learned from states that have already implemented seat belt requirements on school buses. This legislation affects school bus manufacturers and school districts nationwide, though no specific federal funding is allocated in the bill itself—it focuses on establishing the regulatory framework for improved student safety during school transportation.
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