SECURES Act of 2026

This bill requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to propose new federal safety standards for seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of enactment. It directs the Secretary to specifically consider lap/shoulder belt systems (Type 2), safety findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, and existing state practices where seat belts are already required. The proposed rules must also evaluate innovative seat belt detection and reminder systems for school bus designs. The bill directly affects manufacturers of new school buses and aims to establish uniform federal seat belt requirements for all new vehicles, regardless of size.