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Panel, NTSB and students press committee for seat belts on school buses; sponsor narrows timeline while addressing retrofit cost concerns
Summary
On Feb. 14 the committee heard testimony in favor of HB 134, which would require lap‑shoulder belts on large school buses in Maryland. Witnesses including the NTSB and a student who rides a local bus described crashes and injuries; sponsors and industry raised retrofit and funding questions and asked for studies on cost and implementation.
Delegate Joseline Tavares told the Environment and Transportation Committee on Feb. 14 that House Bill 134 would require passenger lap‑shoulder belts in new large school buses and phase implementation to balance safety and affordability.
“This year we made a minor adjustment delaying implementation until after 2029 and included an amendment to protect school bus drivers while keeping the core of the bill intact,” Tavares said. She said the bill responds to NTSB investigations showing that compartmentalization alone can be insufficient in rollovers and severe…
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