Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB512: Require seat belts on newly purchased school buses
Status: Failed, April 15, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act requiring a new school bus purchased on or after january 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts to comply with bus standards established by the board of public education; providing exceptions; limiting governmental liability; clarifying bid letting requirements regarding lapshoulder belts in school bus transportation contracts; revising school bus rate capacity requirements; decreasing certain registration fees for school buses equipped with lap-shoulder belts; revising definitions…
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING A NEW SCHOOL BUS PURCHASED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2026, TO BE EQUIPPED WITH LAP-SHOULDER BELTS TO COMPLY WITH BUS STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; LIMITING GOVERNMENTAL LIABILITY; CLARIFYING BID LETTING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING LAPSHOULDER BELTS IN SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS; REVISING SCHOOL BUS RATE CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS; DECREASING CERTAIN REGISTRATION FEES FOR SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH LAP-SHOULDER BELTS; REVISING DEFINITIONS; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-10-101, 20-10-125, 20-10-141, 61-3-529, AND 61-9-421, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Lap-shoulder belt requirement for school buses -- limits on liability. (1) A school bus that is purchased new on or after January 1, 2026, for use in the state must be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for each passenger COMPLY WITH THE BUS STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. (2) A school district that uses a school bus equipped with lap-shoulder belts (b) require all passengers on the school bus to use lap-shoulder belts; and (c) ensure that all lap-shoulder belts are properly maintained and in good working order. (3) A person may not be charged with violating this section or any administrative rule adopted to implement this section if another passenger …
Sponsors
- Cohenour, Jill (D, 83) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing Canceled
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
- : (H) Transmitted to Senate
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
Votes
- Do Pass (April 5, 2025): 67 yea, 31 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 3, 2025): 68 yea, 31 nay, passed
Subjects: Immunity From Suit--Government, Safety, Transportation, Revenue, State, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is HB512?
- HB512 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Require seat belts on newly purchased school buses.
- What does HB512 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act requiring a new school bus purchased on or after january 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts to comply with bus standards established by the board of public education; providing exceptions; limiting governmental liability; clarifying bid letting requirements regarding lapshoulder belts in school bus transportation contracts; revising school bus rate capacity requirements; decreasing certain registration fees for school buses equipped with lap-shoulder belts; revising definitions…
- What is the status of HB512?
- Failed as of April 15, 2025. Latest action: (S) Tabled in Committee (April 15, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB512?
- Cohenour, Jill (D, 83).
- Where is the official record for HB512?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2284
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.