A proposed bill that would equip school buses with seat belts in Tennessee has moved forward in legislature.
The bill came after a school bus crash in Chattanooga killed six children late last year. The driver of the bus, 24-year-old Jonthony Walker, was indicted on six counts of vehicular homicide this month.
Many Chattanooga families and community members impacted by the deadly crash traveled to attend Wednesday's meeting.
READ MORE: Chattanooga Parents Advocate For Seat Belts On School Buses
Representative JoAnne Favors sponsored the bill requiring all school buses across the state to have seat belts. The bill is for buses ordered or purchased on or after July 2018.
Members with the transportation subcommittee agreed the bill needs a more in-depth conversation.
Parents with children who were in the bus crash were excited that the committee voted to move the bill to the full transportation committee.
Representative Favors said it was a step in the right direction.
"I'm pleased about that and we have time to work on the fiscal note. I'm just overcome because this was such an emotional issue for all of us," Favors said.
Two other school bus safety bills, including one that would raise the age of a school bus driver from 21 to 25, were postponed.
