Governor JB Pritzker has signed a new law requiring that all new school buses manufactured in Illinois be equipped with lap-and-shoulder (three-point) seat belts, starting in 2031.

As I noted when the bill advanced, most modern bus manufacturers are already moving in this direction:

“This is really the standard for every new bus today that is being manufactured … So, this really should not be any difficulty for school districts.”

Key points:

• The requirement applies only to new buses built after 2031 — existing buses are grandfathered in.
• The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support: 83-27 in the House and 39-13 in the Senate.
• Supporters say this is a commonsense step to protect children and bring Illinois in line with evolving national safety standards.

👉 Read more: New Illinois law requires seat belts on school buses