Senate bill · S3240 (2025-26)

Relates to drivers of school buses using hands-free mobile telephones

Latest action Jun 5, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A348, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

State Senator, District 56 · Democratic/Working Families

Summary

Prohibits drivers of school buses that are carrying students from using hands-free mobile telephones; provides for certain exceptions.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to ban school bus drivers from mobile tele- phone use while operating the vehicle.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

Transportation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Transportation · New York State Senate.

Cosponsors

Chris Burdick, David Weprin and 4 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic5
Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why Jeremy Cooney says this is needed

Currently, under New York State law, school bus drivers are prohibited from speaking on hand-held mobile telephones while driving. However, the use of hands-free mobile telephone devices is permitted and while the use of such device allows a driver's hands to remain on the wheel, it does not prevent the distraction that mobile telephones cause. Safety is paramount. It is vital for school bus drivers to be alert and focus their whole attention on the road as well as on the student passengers. Speaking on a hands-free mobile telephone can interfere with concentration, which may affect driving and may have potentially disas- trous results on a school bus if a student on the bus needs attention. It is the job of the school bus driver to transport students safely and to maintain their security, and so the distraction of hands-free mobile telephones should be prohibited.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Transportation
Senate TransportationFeb 4, 2026Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Transportation
Senate TransportationMay 13, 2025Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 5, 2026
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Feb 9, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 5, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2026
1ST Report CAL.247
1ST REPORT CAL.247
NY Senate
Jan 15, 2026
Amend and Recommit to Transportation
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Oct 8, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Transportation
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 15, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 14, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1070
1ST REPORT CAL.1070
NY Senate
Jan 24, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly