Emory's Law, formally known as HB 1922, was passed in Tennessee in 2018 following the tragic loss of Emory, a 12-year-old boy, in a school bus related incident. This law requires school buses to have a safety restraint system in place, significantly reducing the risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries among students in the unfortunate event of an accident.

However, in states like Arkansas the implementation of this law is yet to happen. Each day, over 400,000 kids in Arkansas board school buses without safety restraints, putting their lives at potential risk. Arkansas has the responsibility to safeguard the lives of its youngest population. The cost of not taking preventative action is simply too great.

The enforcement of Emory's law in Arkansas will bring about a decline in school bus related injuries and fatalities, ensuring the safety of our kids. It is not a question of if but when a life will be saved, while avoiding the untold emotional pain that comes with mourning a child's untimely death.

Citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries, but the addition of seat belts could make them even safer, especially in severe incidents involving rollovers or ejections.

We, therefore, implore the Arkansas Legislature to implement Emory's Law for School Buses in Arkansas. The life of every child is invaluable, and no parent should have to live through the unimaginable pain of losing a child due to the lack of simple safety features on school buses.

Your support means a lot to us and we urge you to sign this petition urging lawmakers to swiftly pass Emory's Law in Arkansas, so every child can have a safer journey to and from school every day.