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9/5/2025
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Noret, Tikoian join governor for signing of law to put safety cameras on school buses
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 STATE HOUSE — Legislators who sponsored a bill that requires Rhode Island school buses to be equipped with video systems to help monitor traffic violations and keep students, aides, and bus drivers safe joined Gov. Dan McKee today as he ceremonially signed the legislation (S0568A/H5421Aaa) at Pleasant View Elementary School in Smithfield.
Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian and Rep. Thomas E. Noret, who sponsored the new law, were joined by Smithfield Town Manager Robert Seltzer, Smithfield Town Councilors, Smithfield Public Schools Superintendent Dawn Bartz, Smithfield School Committee members, students and staff at Pleasant View Elementary, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251 Secretary Treasurer Matt Taibi. Also attending were Rep. Gregory J. Costantino (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Smithfield, Johnston) and Rep. Paul Santucci (R-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester).
The required systems will be used to monitor school bus violations, such as when vehicles pass a school bus while red lights are flashing. Before this legislation, state law did not require school bus video monitoring systems, and violations for illegally passing a school bus could only be enforced if a police officer was physically present at the time of the offense.
“This is a critical public safety measure to keep the most precious cargo, our children and students, safe,” said Senator Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, Lincoln, North Providence), a retired Rhode Island State Police major and former North Providence Police chief. “This legislation provides a reasonable timeline for cities and towns to procure a necessary enforcement mechanism that will keep our children safe as they’re riding to and from school, particularly when they are boarding or exiting school buses.”
The legislation requires the cameras on new school buses to be active starting July 1, 2027. Additionally, the new law offers a ‘grace period’ for these systems to be used on all Rhode Island school buses—new and existing—by July 1, 2032.
“This bill is necessary for student safety, driver safety, and monitor safety,” said Representative Noret, a retired officer with the Coventry Police Department. “I spoke to the school bus operations in one of the communities I represent, and they said the time frame for budgeting, allocation, and implementation was very thoughtful and reasonable.”
“Far too often, students, parents, and school bus workers are put at risk by motorists violating the law,” said Taibi, Secretary Treasurer at Teamsters Local 251. “Hopefully, this law will keep our children and communities safer by deterring dangerous behavior. Teamsters Local 251 is proud to support this effort.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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