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New state law will require three-point seat belts on Leander ISD buses by 2029; retrofit not considered viable, district estimates high price tag
Summary
Under Senate Bill 546 districts must equip every school-bus passenger with three-point seat belts by Sept. 1, 2029. Leander ISD says 79 general-education and 27 special-education buses lack three-point belts; retrofits carry manufacturer warranty and safety concerns and replacement could cost an estimated $18 million.
Leander ISD administrators told the board that Senate Bill 546 requires every school bus passenger—including the operator—to have a three-point seat belt by Sept. 1, 2029, and asked trustees to formally report on costs and their general-fund ability to comply.
The district operates 318 school buses. Transportation staff said 79 general-education buses and 27 special-education buses (built 2007–2018) are not equipped with three-point belts; daily-route buses currently in service for regular routes already have three-point restraints. The district maintains a 15-year replacement cycle for buses.
Administration presented two compliance paths: retrofit or replacement. Staff said retrofitting a two-point bus to a three-point system can cost roughly $30,000–$45,000 per vehicle, but added the major bus manufacturers will not warranty a retrofit and cited Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) and structural concerns. "If anything has changed on that bus... a lot of that risk and liability comes back to the district," transportation staff warned.
Because of warranty and safety concerns, administration said retrofits are effectively excluded as a reliable district option. Purchasing new buses to replace the 106 noncompliant vehicles was estimated at about $18 million; staff suggested staggering purchases to limit fleet disruption and aligning replacement with the district’s regular cycle where feasible.
The board was told the law requires a public report on costs and a formal board determination on whether the general fund can pay for compliance. If the general fund cannot absorb the cost, administration suggested the district could consider bond funding (via CFAC process) or active bond savings; the district must submit a report to the Texas Education Agency before May 21 and a public TEA report on the statewide burden is expected May 29.
What’s next: Transportation and finance staff will provide detailed cost estimates, replacement timelines and potential financing options; the board must decide whether to pursue general-fund compliance or seek other funding paths and will report the district’s decision to TEA as required by the statute.
