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Lawmakers consider giving districts on state highways more flexibility to extend school‑zone times after student death
Summary
Representative Vanderwal and Mason County Eastern Superintendent Paul Shupe urged support for HB 5651, which would let districts extend school‑zone reduced‑speed periods (from 30 to 60 minutes and up to five activations) to protect students traveling off campus; members pressed on MDOT signage, statutory limits, and local implementation details.
Representative Vanderwal introduced House Bill 5651 as a targeted safety measure allowing school districts located on highways to lengthen or add school‑zone reduced‑speed periods — increasing the 30‑minute default to 60 minutes and permitting up to five activations per day. He emphasized the change is optional for districts and does not create an all‑day school zone.
Superintendent Paul Shupe of Mason County Eastern Schools testified in support, describing a Feb. 19, 2025 crash at the intersection of US 10 and Maine (in testimony cited as in front of the school) that killed 16‑year‑old student Samantha Bateson. Shupe said students leave campus for dual‑enrollment classes, career‑tech programs and activities during the day and argued those movements justify expanded protection windows on busy highways.
Committee members questioned how drivers would know when expanded periods are active and whether districts or MDOT would pay for flashing signage. Members were told many school zones use flashing lights and that MDOT had installed such equipment in some cases; testimony noted signs intended to be installed before schools started were delayed and were not activated until spring after the accident. Several members urged that any expanded activation periods be accompanied by clear signage (flashing lights) and by formal consultation with law enforcement, MDOT and local road commissions to reduce arbitrary activation and liability concerns.
Members also raised statutory constraints on changing speed limits on state highways — including reliance on 85th‑percentile speed studies and traffic thresholds that can prevent lowering limits or installing signals at some intersections. Representative Vanderwal and the superintendent said the bill is meant as a practical flexibility measure for exceptional rural situations where students regularly exit campus during the day and where current traffic‑study thresholds limit local options.
No committee vote on HB 5651 was recorded today. Representatives expressed sympathy for the grieving community and an interest in working with MDOT and other stakeholders to refine the bill’s implementation details before further action.
