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Galena Park ISD estimates up to $4.9 million to meet SB546 school‑bus seat‑belt mandate
Summary
District transportation staff told trustees 71 of 134 buses do not meet Senate Bill 546’s three‑point seat‑belt requirement; retrofitting costs were estimated at $41,000 per bus with a combined replacement/retrofit plan totaling $4,873,000, and the district said the state provided no direct funding for compliance.
Galena Park ISD transportation and operations staff told the board on April 13 that meeting the Texas Senate Bill 546 requirement for three‑point seat belts on school buses by Sept. 1, 2029 will require significant spending.
Transportation Director Ken Bush said the district fleet has 134 buses; 71 vehicles do not comply with the new three‑point harness requirement. Bush estimated a retrofit cost of $41,000 per bus, equal to $2,911,000 to retrofit all 71 noncompliant buses. He described a two‑part plan to achieve compliance: use the normal fleet replacement schedule to replace 18 buses over three years (estimated $2,700,000) and retrofit the remaining 53 buses, yielding a combined estimate of $4,873,000 to bring the full fleet into compliance.
Lee Ramirez, executive director for school operations, noted SB546 took effect Sept. 1, 2025, and districts have until Sept. 1, 2029 to reach full compliance. Trustees asked whether the state had provided funds to cover the mandate; Bush answered directly that the state had provided none to the district.
District staff said they are exploring grants and other funding sources to cover retrofits or replacement costs. They also noted that buses already fitted with three‑point harnesses are used for extracurricular activities and are signed to require student seat‑belt use.
What's next: The transportation office will continue to refine cost estimates and explore funding options; the board will receive additional budget‑development updates during the spring and summer workshops as staff incorporate SB546 compliance costs into the 2026–27 budget process.
