Minnesota2026Passed Legislature
HF4063
Changes to School Bus Safety Rules and Training
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 3:39 AM
In one sentence
This law updates rules for school buses by expanding their definition to include training vehicles, requiring a federal tracking number, updating first aid kit standards based on vehicle age, and allowing specific training use of buses on public roads.
What it does
- Updates the legal definition of 'school bus' to include vehicles used to train employees or contractors in operating school buses.
- Requires anyone providing school transportation using a school bus to obtain a USDOT number for tracking inspections.
- Allows buses operated by licensed commercial driver training schools on public roads, provided they do not use stop-signal arms or warning lights.
- Changes the first aid kit requirement from a specific ten-unit minimum to requiring kits that meet National School Transportation Specifications (NSTSP) standards for vehicles model year 2027 and newer.
- Allows older vehicles to keep using either a ten-unit kit or an NSTSP-compliant kit until January 1, 2030.
Who it affects
- School districts that own or contract for school buses
- Licensed commercial driver training schools operating on public roads
- Operators of type III passenger vehicles used by schools
Limits and unknowns
- The provided text does not state a specific effective date.
- Older vehicles may use either the ten-unit kit or NSTSP kits until January 1, 2030; after that date, type III vehicles must have an NSTSP-compliant kit.
Plain language
Terms to know
- USDOT number
- A federal identification number required for tracking vehicle inspections.
- Type III vehicle
- A passenger vehicle or bus with a maximum seating capacity of ten people, including the driver, and a weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
- NSTSP
- National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, which sets safety standards for school buses.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
First aid kit requirements on school buses modified, USDOT numbers required for all school buses, and school buses authorized on public roads for training purposes.
Official activity
Bill history
- Presented to Governor 05/11/26House
- Presentment date 05/11/2026Senate
- Returned from SenateHouse
- Special Order: Rule 45 amendment strickenSenate
- Comm report: Rule 45-amend, subst. General Orders SF3985Senate
- Received from HouseSenate
- AmendedHouse
- House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day 04/30/26House
- Committee report, to adopt as amendedHouse
- Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and PolicyHouse