SB 968

WES MOORE, Governor  Ch. 524
Chapter 524
  (Senate Bill 968)
AN ACT concerning
  Education – School Bus – Fire Safety Standards
FOR the purpose of repealing exempting the driver’s seat of a school bus from the
     requirement that a school bus be constructed with certain materials that enable it
     to meet certain criteria established by the National School Transportation
     specifications and procedures adopted by the most recent National Congress on
     School Transportation; and generally relating to school bus fire safety standards.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
      Article – Education
      Section 7–808
      Annotated Code of Maryland
      (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
      SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
  Article – Education
7–808.
     (a)    In this section, “school bus” has the meaning stated in § 11–153 of the
Transportation Article.
      (b)(1) [A] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, A school bus shall be constructed with materials that enable it to meet all
the criteria of the school bus seat upholstery fire block test established by the National
School Transportation specifications and procedures adopted at the most recent National
Congress on School Transportation.
  (2)
  THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION DO
NOT APPLY TO THE DRIVER’S SEAT OF A SCHOOL BUS.
      (c)] The Motor Vehicle Administration, with the advice of the Department, shall
adopt regulations to promote fire safety standards of school buses.
      SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2026.
Approved by the Governor, May 12, 2026.
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