schools
‘We could not just pass another unfunded mandate’: state Sen. Menéndez discusses school seatbelt requirement
By Zaria Oates, Jarryd Luna at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio
· June 26, 2026
· 2 min read
Texas lawmakers approved a statewide requirement for all public school buses be equipped with three-point seat belts by Sept. 1, 2029. The restraint is similar to the seat belt used in most passenger vehicles, but it is not currently standard across many public school bus fleets.The mandate comes...
Key takeaway The mandate comes from Senate Bill 546, authored by State Sen.
Why this matters in Terrell Hills News
The new requirement for three-point seatbelts on public school buses will have significant implications for local districts, including those in the Terrell Hills area. With Northeast Independent School District alone facing a $13 million price tag for upgrades, it's clear that the $10 million grant allocated by the state will not be enough to cover the costs. As State Sen. José Menéndez works to secure additional funding, local residents should be watching to see how this mandate will be implemented and paid for. The Texas Education Agency's review of data submissions from school districts will provide crucial information on the scope of the upgrades needed, and Terrell Hills residents should be paying attention to how this process unfolds. With the deadline for retrofitting all buses set for September 1, 2029, local school districts will need to start making plans for how to meet this requirement, and the community should be prepared to support them.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Terrell Hills News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Texas lawmakers approved a statewide requirement for all public school buses be equipped with three-point seat belts by Sept. 1, 2029. The restraint is similar to the seat belt used in most passenger vehicles, but it is not currently standard across many public school bus fleets.The mandate comes...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio and curated for Terrell Hills News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Zaria Oates, Jarryd Luna at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) — San Antonio. To learn more about how Terrell Hills News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from Terrell Hills News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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