North Carolina HB 1204: Require Seat Belts on School Buses.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1204

Short Title: Require Seat Belts on School Buses. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Greenfield, Willis, and Logan (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 5, 2026
*H1204-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE SEAT BELTS AT ALL DESIGNATED SEATING POSITIONS ON 2
SCHOOL BUSES AND ACTIVITY BUSES PURCHASED, LEASED, OR RENTED BY 3
PUBLIC SCHOOL UNITS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-240(c) reads as rewritten: 6
"(c) The State Board of Education shall from time to time adopt such rules and regulations 7
with reference to the construction, equipment, color, and maintenance of school buses, the 8
number of pupils who may be permitted to ride at the same time upon any bus, and the age and 9
qualifications of drivers of school buses as it shall deem to be desirable for the purpose of 10
promoting safety in the operation of school buses. Every school bus that is capable of operating 11
on diesel fuel shall be capable of operating on diesel fuel with a minimum biodiesel concentration 12
of B-20, as defined in G.S. 143-58.4. No school bus shall be operated for the transportation of 13
pupils unless such bus is constructed and maintained as prescribed in such regulations and is 14
equipped with adequate heating facilities, a standard signaling device for giving due notice that 15
the bus is about to make a turn, an alternating flashing stoplight on the front of the bus, an 16
alternating flashing stoplight on the rear of the bus, and such other warning devices, fire 17
protective equipment and first aid supplies as may be prescribed for installation upon such buses 18
by the regulation of the State Board of Education.The State Board shall adopt rules that address 19
the construction, equipment, color, and maintenance of school buses, the number of pupils who 20
may be permitted to ride at the same time upon any bus, and the age and qualifications of drivers 21
of school buses. Every school bus operated for the transportation of pupils shall comply with the 22
rules adopted by the State Board. At a minimum, those rules shall address all of the following: 23
(1) Diesel engine requirements. – Every school bus that is capable of operating 24
on diesel fuel shall be capable of operating on diesel fuel with a minimum 25
biodiesel concentration of B-20, as defined in G.S. 143-58.4. 26
(2) Equipment requirements. – Every school bus shall be equipped with the 27
following: 28
a. Adequate heating facilities. 29
b. A standard signaling device for giving notice that the bus is about to 30
make a turn. 31
c. An alternating flashing stoplight on the rear of the bus. 32
d. Type-two seat belt assemblies that are compliant with all applicable 33
regulations adopted under 49 U.S.C. § 30111 at all designated seating 34
positions, except the State Board may adopt reasonable rules 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1204-First Edition
modifying this requirement with respect to integrated child safety 1
restraint systems, the transportation of students with disabilities, and 2
the use of other federally approved restraint or securement systems 3
where required by federal law. 4
e. Other warning devices, fire protective equipment, and first aid 5
supplies deemed necessary by the State Board." 6
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-247 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 115C-247. Purchase of activity buses by local boards. 8
The several local boards of education in the State are hereby authorized and empowered to 9
take title to school buses purchased with local or community funds for the purpose of transporting 10
pupils to and from athletic events and for other local school activity purposes, and commonly 11
referred to as activity buses. 12
Each local board of education that operates activity buses shall adopt a policy relative to the 13
proper use of the vehicles. The policy shall permit the use of these buses for travel to athletic 14
events during the regular season and playoffs and for travel to other school-sponsored activities. 15
The provisions of G.S. 115C-42 shall be fully applicable to the ownership and operation of 16
such activity school buses. Activity buses may also be used as provided in G.S. 115C-243. 17
A local board of education shall only purchase, lease, or rent activity buses equipped with 18
type-two seat belt assemblies that are compliant with all applicable regulations adopted under 49 19
U.S.C. § 30111 at all designated seating positions, except the local board of education may adopt 20
reasonable policies modifying this requirement with respect to integrated child safety restraint 21
systems, the transportation of students with disabilities, and the use of other federally approved 22
restraint or securement syste