Minnesota2026Passed Legislature
SF3623
New Rules for Stopping at School Buses
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:39 AM
In one sentence
This law requires drivers to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and stay stopped until those lights turn off.
What it does
- Changes the word 'shall' to 'must' in state laws about stopping for buses.
- Requires vehicles to stop at least 20 feet away from a bus with flashing red lights.
- Removes the rule that drivers must wait for the stop arm to retract before moving, requiring them to wait only until the red lights stop flashing instead.
- Adds a warning section about amber prewarning lights on school buses.
Who it affects
- Drivers of vehicles approaching stopped school buses
- School bus operators displaying flashing red or amber lights
Limits and unknowns
- The text does not list specific penalties for drivers who do not stop.
- The exact calendar date when this law takes effect is unknown because it depends on final enactment, which has a future date in the provided metadata.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Flashing red lights
- Red signals on a school bus that tell drivers to stop.
- Prewarning flashing amber lights
- Yellow warning lights shown before the red lights turn on, indicating traffic must not get within 20 feet of the bus soon.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Vehicles approaching school buses to stop for flashing red lights requirement
Official activity
Bill history
- Presentment date 03/25/26House
- Presented to Governor 03/25/26Senate
- Returned from HouseHouse
- Third readingSenate
- House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day Monday, March 23, 2026Senate
- Bills identical, SF substituted on General RegisterSenate
- Special OrderHouse
- Received from SenateSenate
- Comm report: To passHouse
- Author added JasinskiHouse
- Introduction and first readingHouse