School Bus Safety Bill Approved in MN Senate
The Minnesota Senate approved a school bus safety bill, highlighting the state's focus on safety regulations.
The new bill, Senate File 3623, passed unanimously in the Senate by a 67-0 vote and now moves to the House for consideration. The legislation addresses a loophole created by a recent court ruling. The bill clarifies that drivers must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights, regardless of whether the stop arm is fully extended. It also states that flashing amber lights serve as a warning to drivers that the bus is stopping and red lights will soon activate. This legislative action was prompted by a September 2025 Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling in *State v. Waln*. The court overturned a driver's conviction for passing a stopped school bus because the stop arm wasn't fully extended when the driver was within 20 feet of the bus. The new bill seeks to prevent drivers from avoiding accountability by timing their actions to coincide with the stop arm's deployment. The updated law mandates drivers to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying flashing red lights and to remain stationary until the lights stop flashing. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart, the bill's author, emphasized that the bipartisan vote prioritizes the safety of Minnesota's school students. Violators of the statute will face a misdemeanor conviction.
