SB 2290 would have allowed Mississippi school boards to provide bus transportation to students living less than one mile from school when demonstrable safety risks exist (e.g., lack of sidewalks, heavy traffic, crime hotspots). It also permitted temporary emergency transportation for students who normally wouldn’t qualify if new safety threats were documented. The bill required smaller vehicles (10-15 passengers) transporting students to meet federal school bus safety standards but did not require commercial licenses for these vehicles. Additionally, it allowed school buses to be used in declared emergencies (like natural disasters) without interfering with student transportation. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1319 would set a fixed maximum speed of 65 mph for all school buses transporting children on authorized trips (including regular routes and other trips like field trips), regardless of the posted speed limit on the road. This directly affects school bus drivers and transportation contractors operating in Mississippi, replacing the previous rule that allowed higher speeds on interstates. The bill establishes a $25-$100 fine per violation for exceeding 65 mph, with possible termination of driving employment. It would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.
HB 427 establishes the Mississippi Transit Corporation as an independent state agency within the Department of Transportation, responsible for providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective bus, rail, and light rail transit services across Mississippi. The corporation is governed by a 17-member board of directors, including state officials (House Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, Transportation Department Executive Director), airport chair, and city-appointed members from Jackson, Meridian, Vicksburg, Canton, Clinton, and Madison, plus a transit user representative. Board members must have transit experience or transportation expertise, serve staggered four-year terms without pay (reimbursed for expenses), and hold at least 10 public meetings annually. This bill directly affects Mississippians who rely on public transit and local governments in the specified cities by creating a centralized agency to manage and improve statewide transit services.
HB 540 revises Mississippi law to increase penalties for drivers who injure children exiting school buses. It amends Section 63-3-615 (school bus stop requirements) and Section 97-3-7 (assault penalties), designating the new provisions as the "Amiya Braxton Amendment." The bill makes it a felony (aggravated assault) when a driver violates the school bus stop law and causes injury to a child boarding or exiting a bus, raising penalties to 5-20 years in prison versus previous misdemeanor penalties. This directly affects drivers who fail to stop for school buses and cause injury to children during boarding or exiting.
HB 530 would increase penalties for drivers who pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop sign. A first violation would carry a $1,000-$2,000 fine (or up to one year in jail) plus a 60-day license suspension. Subsequent violations within five years would require a $2,000-$3,000 fine (or up to one year in jail) and a one-year license suspension. The bill also specifies that violations causing injury to a child would be prosecuted under a separate law (Section 97-3-7).
HB 1318 revises Mississippi's student transportation rules to allow school districts to use passenger cars or multipurpose vehicles (not school buses) for student trips under specific safety conditions. It requires vehicles carrying 10-15 students to meet federal school bus safety standards, limits non-bus transport to fewer than 10 students (excluding drivers), and mandates licensed drivers following school safety plans. School districts must prioritize school bus use whenever practical and adopt policies addressing liability. The bill directly affects Mississippi school districts, students, and drivers transporting students outside school buses, taking effect July 1, 2026.
