Latest action: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Bill is filed in its originating chamber and assigned a number.
Filed in the House.
Next: In Committee
Members of the committee(s) the bill was referred to
Prevents public transportation systems from offering free fares to all riders.
The problem
Some U.S. cities have started making public buses and transit free. This bill addresses concerns about how these free fare policies affect funding and transit systems.
The proposal
The bill would amend federal transportation law to ban public transit agencies from implementing universal free fare policies across their systems.
The impact
Transit agencies lose funding options; low-income riders may face new costs; cities lose a tool to reduce traffic and pollution; taxpayers may see shifted costs.
Free fares reduce ticket revenue that transit systems depend on. Keeping fare requirements helps systems maintain stable funding for operations and infrastructure without relying entirely on taxes or subsidies.
When riders pay fares, they share the cost of their transportation. This principle of users contributing to services they use is seen as financially responsible and fair to taxpayers.
Federal bans on free fares prevent cities from implementing policies that require massive new funding without clear plans. This protects local budgets from unexpected financial pressure.
Poor families often depend on buses for jobs and services. Preventing free fares makes transportation more expensive for people who can least afford it, creating barriers to employment and opportunity.
Free public transit encourages people to use buses instead of cars. Banning free fares might push more people to drive, increasing traffic congestion and air pollution in cities.
Cities should decide their own transportation policies based on local needs. A federal ban prevents communities from choosing free fares even if residents and leaders support it.
Free transit can boost local businesses by helping customers reach stores more easily. The bill doesn't account for these economic advantages of free fare policies.
Generated by AI from the bill text. Not a prediction and not legal or policy advice. The percentage is the model's own rating of each item — self-reported, and not a measure of how accurate it is.
Loading map…
Loading...
0 citizens have already voted
Free · No spam · See how your representatives voted
Be the first to weigh in
Your vote starts the conversation
How citizen engagement works
Citizens vote & comment
Public opinion data is aggregated and updated in real time.
Patterns become visible
Representatives can see constituent sentiment broken down by district.
Your voice on the record
Contact your rep directly — one constituent call can shift a staffer's priority list.
Research shows that constituent contacts — especially calls — are among the most effective ways to influence a legislator's position on active bills.
Other bills in this policy area
S 3258
Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2026
S 759
Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act
S 3257
John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act
HR 5109
Transportation Worker Identification Credential Efficiency Act
Senate LDA lobbying disclosures
Couldn't load lobbying disclosures right now.