Require seat belts on newly purchased school buses

This bill requires school buses purchased in Montana on or after January 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for all passengers. School districts must create and enforce policies requiring belt use and maintain the equipment in working order. The legislation also provides liability protections for districts and drivers if students are injured due to not wearing belts or because another student used a belt improperly, while still allowing claims if a belt is broken or poorly maintained. Districts may request an exemption from the belt requirement if they determine their budget cannot cover the cost of new buses with lap-shoulder belts, subject to a public vote. The bill also updates definitions for school bus capacity and registration fee structures related to buses with lap-shoulder belts.