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College Station ISD’s board of trustees approved a plan to retrofit nearly 20 school buses with three-point seat belts in compliance with a new state law.
The measure, which came with a $570,000 price tag, was unanimously approved at the board’s March 17 meeting.
What it means
The funding will go toward retrofitting 19 of the district’s existing buses with three-point seat belts, as required under Senate Bill 546.
The item was discussed during the board’s February meeting and previewed ahead of its March meeting.
District officials previously said:
That leaves 19 buses that must be upgraded to meet the new state requirement.
The retrofit cost is estimated at $30,000 per bus.
Breaking down the bill
SB 546, which was approved in 2025 during the 89th legislative session, requires all Texas school buses to be equipped with three-point seat belts before September 2029.
Districts must also submit a compliance plan to the state by May 29 outlining their current status and expected costs.
College Station ISD officials have previously noted that bond funds cannot be used for retrofitting older buses, meaning the expense will come from the district’s general budget. However, in an official memo, the district said the Texas Education Agency “has indicated that a grant will be available at a later date,” which the district will monitor.
Going forward
New buses purchased by the district will already include seat belts, reducing the number of older buses that will need upgrades over time.
Also on the agenda
At the March 17 meeting, trustees also approved new positions tied to the district’s expanding career and technical education programs and continued the district’s six strategic goals for the 2026-27 school year.
