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GA HB1094

GA HB1094
Georgia School Bus Safety and Modernization Act; enact

summary

Introduced
01/29/2026
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to revise provisions for the calculation and distribution of funds by the State Board of Education to local units of administration for student transportation programs; to require the State Board of Education to distribute to each local unit of administration up to 100 percent of projected costs of such local unit of administration's student transportation program, subject to exception; to remove requirements that regular transportation services shall be fully funded before other transportation services are funded; to require the State Board of Education to collaborate with and receive relevant information from local units of administration regarding the calculation of projected costs of student transportation programs; to include the cost of health insurance in the factors considered in calculating the costs of student transportation programs; to provide for processes; to require the Department of Education to update the schedule of standards and variable student transportation costs or cost factors twice each year and to publish such updated schedules on its public website; to provide for the use of vehicles in addition to school buses in student transportation programs; to provide for an increase in the schedule of uniform minimum salaries for drivers; to provide for the inclusion in transportation cost calculations of students who live within one and one-half miles from school but who cannot safely walk or otherwise travel to school without the use of a motor vehicle; to provide for the establishment of a school vehicle data base; to provide for establishment of a school vehicle replacement schedule; to provide for a grant program to reimburse for expenses related to school vehicles; to provide for priorities for such grants; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Georgia School Bus Safety and Modernization Act, aims to improve student transportation by revising how funds are calculated and distributed by the State Board of Education to local school districts for their transportation programs. It mandates that the State Board of Education should distribute up to 100 percent of projected transportation costs to each local district, removing the previous requirement to fully fund regular transportation before other services. The bill also requires the State Board to work with local districts to determine these projected costs, which will now include the cost of health insurance for drivers. Furthermore, the Department of Education must update and publish schedules of transportation costs and factors twice a year, and the bill allows for the use of vehicles other than traditional school buses for student transportation. It also increases the minimum salary for school vehicle drivers to $2,000 per month and expands eligibility for state transportation funding to include students who live within 1.5 miles of school but cannot safely walk or travel there due to hazardous conditions. Finally, the bill establishes a database for school vehicles, a schedule for replacing older vehicles, and a grant program to help districts with expenses related to purchasing, equipping, and converting school vehicles to cleaner fuels, prioritizing districts with older fleets, high numbers of students with special needs, and those serving students who travel the furthest distances.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

House Second Readers (on 02/03/2026)

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