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Seguin ISD reviews SB 546 seat-belt mandate and estimates retrofit costs
Summary
District staff reviewed SB 546’s mandate for three-point seat belts on all buses, reported fleet counts and retrofit cost estimates, and noted TEA reporting and a compliance deadline of Sept. 1, 2029.
Seguin ISD staff briefed the board on SB 546 and the district’s status toward meeting the law’s requirement that "all school buses (whether owned or contracted) [be] equipped with three-point seat belts for every passenger, including the driver." The mandate removes previous model-year exemptions and requires districts to report seat-belt status and estimated costs to the Texas Education Agency by the end of the 2025–26 school year, with full compliance required by Sept. 1, 2029.
The transcript records specific fleet figures and retrofit estimates presented to the board: categories listed include 71–77 passenger buses and special-needs buses, with some buses already equipped with three-point belts. The district reported estimated retrofit costs for 10 buses eligible for retrofit at $262,762 (71-passenger) and $27,000 for special-needs buses, with a summed subtotal listed as $317,762; a larger total cost figure of $7,222,285 also appears in the presentation for full fleet compliance. The district noted that gifts and grants may be accepted to help pay for upgrades.
Because the printed transcript contains several numeric lines that appear inconsistent when summed (see audit), the article reports the figures as presented in board materials and minutes. The board did not take a policy vote on funding at the meeting; staff were reporting requirements and cost estimates as part of informational items to guide future budgeting.
