New Minnesota school bus safety laws begin this school year
Back-to-school tips for homework and after-school meltdowns
As kids settle into a new school year, parents may be dealing with homework battles and after-school meltdowns. Pediatrician and parenting strategist Dr. Madeleine Gagnon joins us with practical tips for managing homework at different ages and helping kids transition from school to home.
(FOX 9) - Minnesota students are heading back to school, and the 2026 legislative session brought a wave of school bus safety changes that affect drivers, students and the people behind the wheel.
New school bus law
What we know:
The biggest change clarifies what drivers are required to do when approaching a school bus.
Under the new law, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus whenever its red lights are flashing — even if the stop arm is not fully extended.
Dig deeper:
The change came after a Minnesota Court of Appeals decision found that state law previously required a school bus stop arm to be fully extended before a driver had an obligation to stop.
However, the new law closes that gap. Flashing amber lights now serve as a warning that red lights will soon be activated.
The stop-light clarification took effect March 28, 2026.
Practical tips for managing back-to-school time
Dr. Madeleine Gagnon joins All Day to break down 5 tips for back-to-school time.
The past legislative session also changed several technical improvements, including updated first aid kits on school buses.
Beginning on Aug. 1, kits are required to be in line with national standards to make sure vehicles transporting students are adequately supplied.
Among the items required are a first aid kit that contains sterile gauze pads, large gauze compresses, adhesive strips, triangular bandages, elastic or Hema-Flex bandage compresses, a CPR face shield with a one-way valve, medical scissors, and a record-keeping pencil, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Also required are a Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant fire extinguisher, three reflective emergency warning triangles for deployment during roadside stops and a body fluid spill kit.
Commercial driver training schools can now also use school buses for behind-the-wheel training on public roads, a change that is said to make it easier for school districts and bus companies to train their drivers.
The Source: Information gathered from the 2026 Minnesota legislative session.