summary
Introduced
01/23/2025
01/23/2025
In Committee
05/27/2025
05/27/2025
Crossed Over
06/11/2025
06/11/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
136th General Assembly
Bill Summary
To amend sections 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 and to enact sections 5.501, 3327.18, and 3327.19 of the Revised Code to address school bus safety, to designate this act as the School Bus Safety Act, and to make an appropriation.
AI Summary
This bill enacts the School Bus Safety Act, which introduces several key provisions to enhance school bus safety in Ohio. The bill establishes a School Bus Safety Fund that will collect criminal fines from violations of school bus stopping laws, with the funds to be used for grants to school districts to improve school bus safety features. These safety features include external cameras, crossing arms, lane departure warning systems, electronic stability control, lighted crossover mirrors, fully illuminated stop arms, collision avoidance systems, and various other technological enhancements. The bill creates a grant program administered by the Department of Education and Workforce to help school districts purchase and install these safety features on their buses. Additionally, the legislation increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for school buses, with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the number of prior offenses, and potential license suspensions. The bill also requires the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to provide information about school bus safety laws to drivers and designates August as "School Bus Safety Awareness Month" to raise public awareness about the importance of stopping for school buses. The state will allocate $10 million in the first fiscal year to support this school bus safety initiative, with up to $100,000 designated for program administration and the remainder for safety feature grants.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security, Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (59)
Cecil Thomas (D)*,
Bernie Willis (R)*,
Munira Abdullahi (D),
Adam Bird (R),
Sean Brennan (D),
Darnell Brewer (D),
Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D),
Karen Brownlee (D),
Jamie Callender (R),
Thad Claggett (R),
Gary Click (R),
Christine Cockley (D),
Rodney Creech (R),
Jack Daniels (R),
Kellie Deeter (R),
Michael Dovilla (R),
Tex Fischer (R),
Haraz Ghanbari (R),
Chris Glassburn (D),
Michele Grim (D),
Derrick Hall (D),
Thomas Hall (R),
Mark Hiner (R),
Jim Hoops (R),
Latyna Humphrey (D),
Dontavius Jarrells (D),
Marilyn John (R),
Mark Johnson (R),
Angie King (R),
Matthew Kishman (R),
Crystal Lett (D),
Gayle Manning (R),
Ty Mathews (R),
Riordan McClain (R),
Lauren McNally (D),
Joe Miller (D),
Kevin Miller (R),
Melanie Miller (R),
Ismail Mohamed (D),
Mike Odioso (R),
Bob Peterson (R),
Justin Pizzulli (R),
Phil Plummer (R),
Tristan Rader (D),
Kevin Ritter (R),
Monica Robb Blasdel (R),
Bill Roemer (R),
Allison Russo (D),
Jodi Salvo (R),
Mark Sigrist (D),
Veronica Sims (D),
Bride Sweeney (D),
Eric Synenberg (D),
Jim Thomas (R),
Terrence Upchurch (D),
Andrea White (R),
Erika White (D),
Josh Williams (R),
Heidi Workman (R),
Last Action
Senate Rules and Reference C., 1st Hearing, Sponsor (11:30:00 2/11/2026 Senate Chamber) (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
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