HB1536
To Withhold State Transportation Funding From A School District That Does Not Require Passenger Restraint Systems In School Buses Under Certain Conditions.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1536 amends Arkansas state law regarding school bus safety by mandating the implementation of passenger restraint systems. The bill requires school districts to either place a proposal on the ballot for voters to decide on restraint system installation or independently choose to purchase, install, and maintain restraint systems in all newly acquired school buses. If a district fails to take either of these actions, the state will withhold 25 percent of the school district's transportation funding. This penalty remains in effect until the district complies with the requirement to either put the matter to a ballot vote or commit to installing restraint systems. The bill aims to incentivize the adoption of safety restraints to improve student security during transportation.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are public school students who ride school buses, as the implementation of passenger restraint systems is intended to increase their safety in the event of an accident. Additionally, parents and guardians of students may benefit from the increased safety measures provided to their children during daily commutes.
Who Might Suffer?
School districts are the primary entities negatively impacted, as they face the potential loss of 25 percent of their state transportation funding if they do not comply with the mandate. This financial pressure may strain district budgets, particularly for smaller or underfunded districts that might struggle with the significant costs associated with purchasing, installing, and maintaining seat belt or restraint systems on new bus fleets.
Vote Records
Third Reading
March 19, 2025View individual votes (35)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane English | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Jonathan Dismang | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Greg Leding | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Missy Irvin | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Bryan King | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Kim Hammer | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Stephanie Flowers | Democrat | Senate | Nay |
| Frederick Love | Democrat | Senate | Yea |
| Terry Rice | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Reginald Murdock | Democrat | Senate | NV |
| Gary Stubblefield | Republican | Senate | NV |
| Jim Dotson | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| John Payton | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Alan Clark | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Ronald Caldwell | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Bart Hester | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Jimmy Hickey | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| David Wallace | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Blake Johnson | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Justin Boyd | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Clarke Tucker | Democrat | Senate | Nay |
| Scott Flippo | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Clint Penzo | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Mark Johnson | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Ricky Hill | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Jamie Scott | Democrat | Senate | Nay |
| Breanne Davis | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Ben Gilmore | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Joshua Bryant | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Matt McKee | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Jim Petty | Republican | Senate | Yea |
| Steve Crowell | Republican | Senate | Nay |
| Tyler Dees | Republican | Senate | Absent |
| Matt Stone | Republican | Senate | Nay |
Third Reading
Feb. 26, 2025View individual votes (100)
| Legislator | Party | Chamber | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy Steele | Democrat | House | NV |
| Fred Allen | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Lane Jean | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Meeks | Republican | House | NV |
| Mark Perry | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jon Eubanks | Republican | House | NV |
| Matthew Shepherd | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeff Wardlaw | Republican | House | NV |
| Bruce Cozart | Republican | House | Yea |
| David Whitaker | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Mike Holcomb | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stephen Magie | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Mark McElroy | Republican | House | Yea |
| Richard Womack | Republican | House | NV |
| Jack Ladyman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Robin Lundstrum | Republican | House | NV |
| Dwight Tosh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick Beck | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mary Bentley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Eaves | Republican | House | Yea |
| Justin Gonzales | Republican | House | NV |
| Julie Mayberry | Republican | House | Nay |
| Ken Ferguson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Ron Mcnair | Republican | House | Yea |
| Marcus Richmond | Republican | House | NV |
| Deann Vaught | Republican | House | NV |
| Karilyn Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Sonia Eubanks Barker | Republican | House | NV |
| Frances Cavenaugh | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jimmie Gazaway | Republican | House | NV |
| Roger Lynch | Republican | House | Yea |
| John Maddox | Republican | House | NV |
| Aaron Pilkington | Republican | House | NV |
| Johnny Rye | Republican | House | Yea |
| Les Warren | Republican | House | NV |
| Carlton Wing | Republican | House | NV |
| Austin Mccollum | Republican | House | Nay |
| Carol Dalby | Republican | House | NV |
| Steve Hollowell | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brian Evans | Republican | House | Yea |
| Lee Johnson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Andrew Collins | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Stan Berry | Republican | House | NV |
| Harlan Breaux | Republican | House | Yea |
| Cameron Cooper | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nicole Clowney | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Cindy Crawford | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Garner | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Tippi McCullough | Democrat | House | NV |
| Jay Richardson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jim Wooten | Republican | House | Yea |
| Denise Ennett | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Richard McGrew | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joy Springer | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Howard Beaty | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tony Furman | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendon Underwood | Republican | House | Nay |
| David Ray | Republican | House | Nay |
| John Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Rick McClure | Republican | House | Yea |
| Keith Brooks | Republican | House | NV |
| Ashley Hudson | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jon Milligan | Republican | House | Yea |
| RJ Hawk | Republican | House | Nay |
| Wade Andrews | Republican | House | NV |
| Rebecca Burkes | Republican | House | Nay |
| Hope Duke | Republican | House | Nay |
| Zack Gramlich | Republican | House | Yea |
| Mindy McAlindon | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Duffield | Republican | House | Yea |
| Stetson Painter | Republican | House | Yea |
| Steve Unger | Republican | House | Yea |
| Wayne Long | Republican | House | Yea |
| Scott Richardson | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brandon Achor | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jeremiah Moore | Republican | House | Yea |
| Joey Carr | Republican | House | Yea |
| Matt Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Shad Pearce | Republican | House | Yea |
| Chad Puryear | Republican | House | Yea |
| Ryan Rose | Republican | House | Nay |
| Bart Schulz | Republican | House | Yea |
| Trey Steimel | Republican | House | Yea |
| Tara Shephard | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jeremy Wooldridge | Republican | House | Yea |
| Kendra Moore | Republican | House | NV |
| Brit McKenzie | Republican | House | NV |
| Steven Walker | Republican | House | Yea |
| Glenn Barnes | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Lincoln Barnett | Democrat | House | Nay |
| Alyssa Brown | Republican | House | Yea |
| Nick Burkes | Republican | House | Yea |
| Paul Childress | Republican | House | Yea |
| James Eaton | Republican | House | Yea |
| Brad Hall | Republican | House | Yea |
| Dolly Henley | Republican | House | Yea |
| Jessie McGruder | Democrat | House | Yea |
| Jason Nazarenko | Republican | House | Yea |
| Randy Torres | Republican | House | Yea |
| Diana Gonzales Worthen | Democrat | House | Yea |
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