Continuing Coverage
Continuing Coverage

School bus stopping bill passes Ga. Senate

Fulton County Schools bus stops on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. A phrase added to a 15-page bill approved late in the Georgia legislative session last year has caused panic among officials responsible for getting children to and from school safely. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
Fulton County Schools bus stops on Powers Ferry Road in Sandy Springs on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. A phrase added to a 15-page bill approved late in the Georgia legislative session last year has caused panic among officials responsible for getting children to and from school safely. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Ty Tagami
Feb 8, 2019

The Georgia Senate, in an act of bipartisanship, quickly passed a bill Thursday to reverse a law passed last year that may put children in danger.

School officials say a law that took effect July 1 appears to relax the requirement to stop in the oncoming lane for a school bus that is boarding or releasing students.

At least one child has been killed crossing to a bus in Georgia since the law passed, the Georgia Department of Education says. It happened in October in Colquitt County, when two brothers were crossing a road for a school bus.

RELATED | Why a small change in law could create danger for students

Senate Bill 25 by Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, passed by a unanimous vote, and goes to the House of Representatives, which has its own version in House Bill 75.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

Follow Ty Tagami on facebookFollow Ty Tagami on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

KSU said Monday a reported gas leak in the H building caused service outages impacting the Marietta campus. (AJC FIle)

Kennesaw State modifies operations on Marietta campus due to gas leak

KSU officials said the campus is safe, but internet and heat for some buildings on campus are out.

New Fulton charter school aims to move students on a path to success

The Atlanta location is the newest of the nine Movement Schools, and the first in Georgia, These public charter schools specialize in education and financial literacy.

Parents are cautiously optimistic as Decatur slows school closure plans

School board members have said whatever they decide to do won’t affect the 2026-27 school year.

The Latest

KSU said Monday a reported gas leak in the H building caused service outages impacting the Marietta campus. (AJC FIle)

Kennesaw State modifies operations on Marietta campus due to gas leak

New Fulton charter school aims to move students on a path to success

Parents are cautiously optimistic as Decatur slows school closure plans

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.