School bus seat belt bill passes Illinois Houses, heading to Pritzker

On Wednesday, it was announced that Senate Bill 0191 has passed both Houses and will be sent to Governor JB Pritzker to be signed into law. This bill requires that, starting Jan. 1, 2031, each designated seating position in any newly purchased school bus must be equipped with a combination pelvic and upper torso seat safety belt system in good operating condition and meets all applicable federal standards.

The initial proposal of the bill by Sen. Julie A. Morrison on Jan. 22, 2025, had a start date of Jan. 1, 2027. The date was changed to 2031 in a Senate Floor Amendment.

The bill also shows that nothing in the provisions requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to make sure the seat belt or other restraint system is correctly adjusted and fastened or to give instruction on how to properly do so.

It also explains that the requirement does not apply to a school bus that being leased by a school district or a school bus that is legally registered in another state and displaying valid registration plates of the state if the bus is not operated in Illinois in connection with a “cultural, tourist, athletic or other similar activity” for students enrolled in a school outside the state.