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Tomball ISD told to report $3.2M–$5M retrofit bill after SB 546 review; district flags liability, seeks state help
Summary
District staff told the board that Senate Bill 546 — requiring three‑point seat belts on school buses — leaves Tomball ISD with roughly 103 buses out of compliance and an estimated retrofit cost in the low‑millions; staff recommended reporting costs to TEA and said the board will likely state its budget cannot cover compliance absent state grant funds.
Chief Operating Officer Dr. Steven Guthus told the Tomball ISD board at its April workshop that Senate Bill 546, which amends transportation rules to require three‑point seat belts on school buses, will affect roughly half the district’s fleet and carry multi‑million‑dollar costs.
Guthus said the district operates 205 school buses for home‑to‑school routes and trips and that about 50% already have three‑point seat belts. “Bottom line,” he said, “there are 103 buses that do not meet the letter of the law as it is currently written.” He told trustees the bill is effective now but districts are not required to be in full compliance until Sept. 1, 2029.
The district presented two compliance pathways required by state reporting: an estimated retrofit program using third‑party vendors or purchase of…
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