SB 843: Vehicles: school pupil transportation: advisory committee.

California · Senate · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified February 3, 2026

What SB 843 does, verified February 3, 2026

This bill aims to amend the vehicle code to improve school pupil transportation safety. The California Highway Patrol would adopt reasonable rules and regulations to promote safe operation of schoolbuses and commercial motor vehicles. An advisory committee would assist in developing and adopting these regulations. The committee would be expanded to include 2 representatives from low-income communities to provide diverse perspectives. This expansion would help ensure that the needs of all communities are considered when developing transportation safety regulations.

Bill journey

✓IntroducedComplete

2In CommitteeCurrent

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Sen. Henry SternAuthor · California State Senate

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Recent actions5 total · showing 5

Feb. 02, 2026	Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Mar. 12, 2025	Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Feb. 24, 2025	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
Feb. 24, 2025	Read first time.
Feb. 21, 2025	Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 21, 2025 · 503 words

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 843

Introduced by Senator Stern

February 21, 2025

An act to amend Section 34501.5 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 843, as introduced, Stern. Vehicles: school pupil transportation: advisory committee.

Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to adopt reasonable rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the department, are designed to promote the safe operation of specified vehicles, including, among other vehicles, schoolbuses and commercial motor vehicles. Existing law requires the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to appoint an advisory committee to assist with developing and adopting regulations affecting school pupil transportation. Existing law specifies appointment of the 11 members of the committee, including, among others, one member employed as a schoolbus driver.

This bill would expand the committee to 13 members by including the appointment of 2 members of low-income communities, as specified.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 34501.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

34501.5.

(a) The Department of the California Highway Patrol shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations ~~which,~~ that, in the judgment of the department, are designed to promote the safe operation of vehicles described in Sections 39830 and 82321 of the Education Code and Sections 545 and 34500 of this code. The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol shall appoint a committee of 11 13 members to act in an advisory capacity when developing and adopting regulations affecting school pupil transportation buses and school pupil transportation operations. The advisory committee shall consist of 11 13 members appointed as follows:

(1) One member of the State Department of Education.

(2) One member of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(3) One member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(4) One member who is employed as a schoolbus driver.

(5) One member of the Office of Traffic Safety in the ~~Business,~~ Transportation ~~and Housing~~ Agency.

(6) Two members who are schoolbus contractors, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department.

(7) Two members who are representatives of school districts, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department.

(8) One professionally licensed member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(9) One member representing school pupil transportation operations other than schoolbus operations.

(10) Two members of low-income communities, one of whom shall be from an urban area of the state and one of whom shall be from a rural area of the state, as determined by the department.

(b) The department shall cooperate and confer with the advisory committee appointed pursuant to this section prior to adopting rules or regulations affecting school pupil transportation buses and school pupil transportation operations.

Text of SB 843 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions