United StatesSenate Bill 2478S 2478
Freedom to Move Act
Transportation and Public Works
9 pages
- senate
- house
- president
Last progress July 28, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 28, 2025 by Edward John Markey
Sponsors (2)
Last progress July 28, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 28, 2025 by Edward John Markey
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
This bill would help cities, towns, states, and transit agencies make buses and other public transit free to ride. The U.S. Department of Transportation would give competitive, five-year “Freedom to Move” grants to cover lost fare revenue and to improve service in both rural and urban areas . Money can pay for things like safer, more frequent, and more reliable bus service, better bus stops and shelters, painted bus lanes, signal priority at lights, street redesigns, and extra staff and training to handle more riders . Agencies must also gather community input, study where service is lacking, and work to end fare evasion penalties that criminalize riders .
The Department must award the first grants within 360 days of the bill becoming law. Grants last five years. The bill authorizes $5 billion each year from 2026 through 2030. Agencies must report progress and who is being served within three years of funds going out, including data by race, ethnicity, sex, and income .
| Key point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Who is affected | Riders in underserved communities; low-income riders; youth (including foster care youth), seniors, and people with disabilities; transit workers and agencies in rural and urban areas . |
| What changes | Fare-free transit supported by grants; better bus service and safety; community input; equity checks; plans to end criminal penalties for fare evasion . |
| When | First awards within 360 days of enactment; each grant lasts 5 years; funding authorized for fiscal years 2026–2030; progress reports due within 3 years of funds being available . |