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Committee hears House Bill 5-12 to require lap-shoulder belts on new school buses and district policies on use
Summary
Representative Jill Kohnauer told the House Education Committee HB 5-12 would require lap-shoulder belts on school buses acquired on or after Jan. 1, 2026, mandate enforceable district policies requiring use, and offer a 10% payment-in-lieu-of-taxes reduction to incentivize districts.
Representative Jill Kohnauer opened the hearing on House Bill 5-12, saying the measure would require lap-shoulder belts on school buses “on or after January first of 2026” and would compel school districts to adopt enforceable, publicly available lap-shoulder belt usage policies.
Supporters from a coalition of education groups testified in favor of the bill. Doug Reisick, speaking for a coalition that included the School Administrators of Montana and the Montana Rural Education Association, said HB 5-12 “prioritizes student safety by ensuring school buses are equipped with essential safety features…
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