Bill > SF2797

This bill introduces several modifications to school bus and motor vehicle regulations in Minnesota, focusing on safety, inspection, and alternative fuel vehicle adoption. The bill increases registration fees for various types of buses, significantly raising penalties for illegally passing stopped school buses, and mandating an annual comprehensive school bus inspection report that will be publicly accessible. It expands the electric school bus grant program to include propane buses, recognizing propane as an alternative clean fuel option. The bill also modifies third-party testing requirements for school bus drivers, allowing more flexibility in testing agreements between school districts, bus companies, and transit operators. Additionally, the legislation provides an $8.4 million appropriation for grants to help schools and bus service providers install stop-signal arm camera systems, with the goal of improving student safety during bus loading and unloading. The changes are designed to enhance school transportation safety, provide more transparency in bus inspections, and support the transition to cleaner-fuel vehicles, with most provisions becoming effective in 2025.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF2797&ssn=0&y=2025