West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB558: Relating to school bus safety violations by vehicle operators
Status: Vetoed, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §17C-12-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend the code by adding two new sections, designated §17C-12-7b and §17C-12-7c, relating to school bus safety violations by vehicle operators; authorizing video content from school buses that capture a violation to be sent to law enforcement; creating an aggravated offense related to passing a stopped school bus; establishing criminal and administrative penalties; and requiring completion of a driver education safety course. ARTICLE 12. SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRED. §17C-12-7. Overtaking and passing school.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §17C-12-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend the code by adding two new sections, designated §17C-12-7b and §17C-12-7c, relating to school bus safety violations by vehicle operators; authorizing video content from school buses that capture a violation to be sent to law enforcement; creating an aggravated offense related to passing a stopped school bus; establishing criminal and administrative penalties; and requiring completion of a driver education safety course. ARTICLE 12. SPECIAL STOPS REQUIRED. §17C-12-7. Overtaking and passing school bus; penalties; signs and warning lights upon buses; requirements for sale of buses; mounting of cameras; educational information campaign; limitation on idling. (a) The driver of a vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on the school bus flashing warning signal lights, as referred to in §17C-12-8 of this code, and the driver may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated. This section applies wherever the school bus is receiving or discharging children including, but not limited to, any street, …