Motor Vehicles - School Buses - Seat Belts
Sponsor: Deni Taveras (District 47B)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Vehicle Laws - Rules of the RoadStatus: Hearing 2/14 at 1:30 p.m. (Environment and Transportation) (as of Dec 1, 2025)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Requiring the public school safety education program to include student instruction concerning school bus safety and the proper use of seat belts on school buses; requiring that school buses purchased after July 1, 2027, and registered in the State be equipped with, for every seat on the school bus, 3-point seat belts that are accessible to passengers; and prohibiting a civil action for damages based on the failure of a school bus operator to ensure that an occupant of a school bus was wearing a seat belt.
AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.
Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.
Testimony (0)
MGA witness listFAV 9FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Jakuta, Joseph | Climate Parents of Prince George's | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Cross, Dr Cashenna A | Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden | Oral |
| FAV | Taveras, Deni | Maryland General Assembly | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Poland, Kristin | National Transportation Safety Board | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Modali, Rama | REPROCELL USA | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | McNair, Lee | Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry | Position only |
| FAV | Cohn, Debbie | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Delegate Taveras, Delegate Taveraslegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Nunez, Juliana | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Howard County, Staff | Board of Education of Howard County | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kress, Williamlobbyist | Kress Hammen | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Lang, Alan | Individual | Position only |
| FWA | Rotunno, Ginalobbyist | National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Fannon, Mary Patlobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Gammer, Lauren | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Hoglund, Hollis | Laurel for the Patuxent | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
Registered lobbyists who testified
UNFKress, WilliamKress HammenRegistered for: Alliance for Automotive Innovation; Amazon.com Services, LLC; Apple Inc.; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Centers for Better Insurance, LLC; Coalition of Maryland Title Insurers…
FWARotunno, GinaNational Association of Mutual Insurance CompaniesRegistered for: National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)