Committee adopts substitute for House Bill 538, approves access for ride-hailing firms and raises driver age limit discussion

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on an executive-session vote adopted a substitute to House Bill 538 and then voted the House committee substitute "do pass," after discussion about two distinct changes: granting transportation network companies (TNCs) access to a student-transportation database used for background checks, and raising the maximum age for school bus drivers from 70 to 75 while moving required certificate renewal for older drivers to a two-year interval.

Committee members adopted a distributed substitute and then adopted the committee substitute on a roll call. The roll call record in the transcript shows multiple members voting both for and against; the committee chair announced a final tally as "by your vote of 79 and 6, no, you have, voted house committee, substitute for house bill 5 38 due pass" (as recorded in the transcript). The transcript also records named votes during the committee roll call: Chairman Lewis (aye), Vice Chairman Vanderman (aye), Representative Steinhoff (no), Representative Jacobs (no), Representative Smith (no), Representative Steinmetz (no), and others voting aye as recorded on the roll call.

On the bill's substance, a committee member asking questions confirmed that TNCs already can serve in student transportation under current statute; the sponsor clarified this substitute "is just allowing them access to that database" used for background checks. The sponsor later explained the other change: raising the age ceiling for school bus drivers from 70 to 75 and changing the renewal/testing interval for drivers above the threshold.

The discussion focused on safety and statutory consistency. A committee member asked whether the bill would create a statutory gap for the 70–75 age range because other statutory language still referenced "up to age 69"; committee members and the sponsor identified the relevant language on page 7, line 17 and clarified the text pertains to non–school-bus endorsements versus the school-bus endorsement addressed in the substitute. The sponsor and committee chair said the intent was to ensure school bus drivers could continue to be certified up to age 75 and to change the testing/renewal interval for those drivers to a two‑year period rather than the current annual renewal for drivers over 70.

A ranking member emphasized safety priorities and noted a preference to "lean on the safety side" for frequent renewals; other members and the sponsor argued a two-year interval offered logistical flexibility without removing required testing. Committee members reiterated that local school boards retain authority to adopt more restrictive standards; the chair said the bill does not preclude local boards from setting stricter policies.

The committee adopted the substitute and then moved the committee substitute to a do-pass recommendation. The transcript records the motion to adopt the substitute, a voice vote on the substitute, then a formal roll call on the committee substitute.

What the transcript shows and does not show: the committee debated statutory cross‑references and renewal intervals; it did not, in the recorded discussion, change the safety-testing requirements themselves or record any additional amendments beyond the substitute adoption. The transcript does not identify the bill sponsor by full name on the record for this portion of the hearing; the committee permitted follow-up inquiries and the sponsor answered them on the record.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the transcript): the committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House committee substitute for House Bill 538 "do pass." The chair announced an overall tally as "79 and 6, no" on the adoption as recorded in the transcript. Individual named roll-call votes during the committee are recorded in the transcript and summarized above.

Ending: Committee members said statutory cross‑references would be checked to avoid leaving an unintended gap for drivers aged 70–75; the chair reiterated local boards could adopt stricter rules and thanked the sponsor for appearing.