89R4825 GP-D
By: Johnson H.B. No. 1619
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to crossing arms on buses that transport schoolchildren.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 547.701, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (f) to
read as follows:
(a) A school bus shall be equipped with:
(1) a convex mirror or other device that reflects to
the school bus operator a clear view of the area immediately in
front of the vehicle that would otherwise be hidden from view; [and]
(2) signal lamps that:
(A) are mounted as high and as widely spaced
laterally as practicable;
(B) display four alternately flashing red
lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located
on the rear at the same level; and
(C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet
in normal sunlight; and
(3) if the vehicle is a model year 2021 or later, a
school bus crossing arm mounted on the vehicle's front bumper that:
(A) is at least 70 inches long and not longer than
the vehicle's width; and
(B) when activated, extends outward in front of
the vehicle to require students who cross the roadway in front of
the school bus to maintain a safe distance between themselves and
the school bus.
(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a
highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of
the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights, a school
bus crossing arm required under Subsection (a)(3), and any other
equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is
stopping to load or unload children.
(f) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to
implement the requirement of Subsection (a)(3).
SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2026.
(b) Section 547.701(f), Transportation Code, as added by
this Act, takes effect September 1, 2025.