Bills › 91st General Assembly

SSB 1161Renumbered as SF 448 · February 25, 2025

Relating to department of education school bus driver authorization and approved courses of instruction

Topics:K–12 educationTransportation

Same legislation: SF 448

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 19, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 19, 2025
  3. Done: Senate committeeFebruary 25, 2025
  4. Done: Passes the SenateMarch 19, 202547–0
  5. Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the House
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Became SF 448 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 448 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

Under current law, a person applying for employment or employed as a school bus driver is required to successfully complete a course of instruction for school bus drivers approved by the department of education (DE) before or within the first months of employment and at least every months thereafter. If a school bus driver fails to provide an employer with a certificate of completion of the course, the driver’s employer must report the failure to DE and the employee’s authorization to operate a school bus must be revoked.

Read the full explanation

A person whose school bus authorization has been revoked is prohibited from being issued another authorization until certification of the completion of a course is received by DE. This bill exempts school bus drivers from being required to complete a course unless the school district employing the driver requires it. A school bus driver whose authorization is revoked may receive authorization without completion of a course if the driver is subsequently employed by a school district that does not require successful completion of a course, so long as the driver is otherwise eligible for authorization. If a school bus driver’s school district requires successful completion of a course, the driver must comply with the course requirements under current law.

From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text

Senate subcommittee

Named February 19, 2025. On February 20, 2025 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: March 10, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§321.376

Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works

Lobbying

1 for · 0 against · 8 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.