SPRINGFIELD — To better protect children during their daily commutes to school, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a new law requiring seat belts in all newly purchased school buses beginning in 2031 — a move that aligns Illinois with national safety trends and growing efforts to keep students safe on the road.

“Many bus manufacturers are already moving toward including seat belts as a standard feature,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This law makes sure Illinois is keeping pace with national safety recommendations and placing students’ well-being at the center of our decisions.”

Under the new law, all school buses purchased or leased after July 1, 2031 and registered in Illinois will be required to have three-point seat belts on all seats. Currently, drivers and passengers ages 8 and older are required to wear seat belts in passenger vehicles, but there is no requirement for using safety belts on buses.

Morrison’s initiative came in response to a school bus crash in which parents in her district expressed concerns for their children’s safety. The law does not require bus drivers or other staff to ensure the seat belts are fastened, nor would it require schools to retrofit existing buses.

“Parents deserve to know their children are safe from the moment they leave for school to the moment they get home,” said Morrison. “Adding seat belts to school buses is simply one more layer of protection.”

Senate Bill 191 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.