MISD outlines plan to comply with Texas school‑bus seat‑belt mandate, cites replacement over retrofit

Midland ISD transportation officials briefed the board on compliance with Senate Bill 546, which requires a 3‑point lap‑shoulder seat belt for every passenger position on Type C and D buses and full compliance by Sept. 1, 2029.

Transportation Director Mister Hill told trustees the district operates roughly 75 active buses; 58 meet the 3‑point requirement, and 17 noncompliant units are scheduled for replacement under the capital asset improvement plan. He said replacement buses arrive factory‑equipped, eliminating retrofit costs and associated liability.

Hill presented retrofit cost estimates as context: an in‑place retrofit lacking factory warranty is roughly $17,000 per bus (about $289,000 for 17 buses), while a retrofit that required floor replacement and warranty coverage could rise to about $40,000 per bus (about $680,000 for 17 buses). Given MISD’s existing replacement schedule, he said asset replacement was the preferred, lower‑risk path for the district.

Trustees asked about injury history and insurance offsets. Hill said he had no immediate data on injuries from non‑compliant buses but noted that buses have historically been among the safest vehicles on the road. The board discussed financial implications, and administration noted that replacement buses for the Lee High School project and the district’s CAIP schedule should bring MISD into full compliance before the 2029 deadline.

What’s next: Transportation staff will continue capital replacements at the planned rate and report back on any changes to timing or costs as bids and procurement progress.