The Mandate
Senate Bill 546, passed during the 2025 Texas Legislative session, requires all Texas school districts to equip their entire school bus fleet with three-point seat belts by September 1, 2029. Three-point seat belts feature both a shoulder and lap buckle for every passenger and operator. This represents a significant statewide safety upgrade that affects all school districts' budgets.
Killeen ISD's Budget Constraints
Killeen ISD has stated that its current budget limits the district's ability to fully comply with the school bus seat belt requirement. This mirrors concerns raised by other Texas school districts grappling with compliance costs. The district must make a formal determination on whether its general fund budget can support compliance before May 29, 2026, as part of a statewide data collection effort by the state.
Compliance Options and Costs
Districts face two primary compliance pathways with different financial impacts. Retrofitting existing buses costs $30,000 to $45,000 per bus but comes without manufacturer warranty coverage, as the modifications alter the bus frame structure and may create liability concerns for districts. Alternatively, districts can purchase new compliant buses before the 2029 deadline, which allows for staggered replacement but requires substantially larger upfront investment. Leander ISD, for example, faces an $18 million budget impact to purchase new buses for 106 vehicles.
Funding Challenges
Potential funding sources for compliance include general fund budget allocations, which would require additional expenditure reductions or use of fund balance reserves. Some districts are exploring Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee processes for potential future bonds or utilizing active bond project savings. The timing creates financial pressure since districts must commit to a compliance strategy within months while managing existing budget constraints. 
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