Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1209 · 2026 · House · Transportation Committee

School bus stop safety rules

AI-generated

relative to child safety at school bus stops.

Requires school districts, bus operators, and drivers to locate stops and conduct operations so students avoid crossing traffic lanes when boarding or exiting school buses.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires school districts, school bus operators, and bus drivers to locate stops and conduct operations in a manner that prevents students from crossing traffic lanes when boarding or exiting school buses.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Each school district and school bus operator shall ensure that school bus stops are located so that boarding and exiting students do not cross any lane of traffic.”
RSA 265:57-a
“Bus drivers shall not permit children to cross a lane of traffic to or from the bus for any boarding or departing activity.”
RSA 265:57-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Samantha JacobsDPrime

Rep. Jodi NewellD

Public testimony

42 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please support HB1209. This bill makes sense for the safety of our future leaders, workers, citizens, voters, and professionals. It will be easy to implement. Our children will be safe getting on busses on their way to school.…”
— Judy Lundahl, Surrysupports
“In this day of distracted drivers, texting, on the phone, or just plain distracted. by life, this bill is the least we can do to protect our school children. As a grandmother and someone that has seen a child almost run over at the bus stop, we need to pass this bill!”
— Elizabeth Meade, West Lebanonsupports
“With so many people driving distracted I think this bill HB 1209 should be made law. Last year I saw my grand daughter in the E R after being hit while crossing the street to get on her school bus, something no grand parent should have to go through.…”
— Wallace B Meade Jr, West Lebanonsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation28:39–29:471m 8slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 10
  2. Feb 17, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/17/2026 10:20 am GP 234
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 10:20 am GP 234
  4. Feb 17, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 9 P. 29
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 39

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.