NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Another deadly crash involving a school bus in Tennessee has reignited a conversation about seat belts on school buses.

A 7-year-old girl and the bus driver were killed in a crash this week in Meigs County. FOX 17 News has confirmed with Tennessee Highway Patrol that seat belts were not on the bus for students.

Only 8 states require seat belts on school buses. Tennessee is not one of them. In 2016 State Representative Susan Lynn, representing Wilson County, was one of the many lawmakers who supported legislation adding seat belts as a requirement on school buses. This week she says she intends to refile this legislation soon.

“Back in 2016, it did not pass because of local school districts. It really wasn’t the legislature. We went back to then-Governor Bill Haslam and asked if he would make a grant fund [for this] and he did,” she said. Haslam supported the legislation.

“The opposition to the bill came from districts. They feared fire or rollovers and children not being able to get out. In actuality a rollover is a huge reason to have students in seat belts,” says Lynn.

Governor Bill Lee says the Megis County bus crash is tragic and implied it’s too early to know whether seat belts would have helped. He said he is certain legislation would be brought before Tennessee lawmakers again. He did not say whether he supports such a law for the state.  FULL STORY HERE