No Free Rides Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7843
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T19:09:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Free Rides Act of 2026" (H.R. 7843) aims to prevent public transportation systems that receive federal funding from offering free rides to all users (known as "universal fare free policies"). It allows targeted discounts for specific groups and provides a limited waiver option.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition: Transit agencies receiving federal assistance under Chapter 53 of Title 49, U.S. Code (federal public transit funding laws) cannot allow all riders to use services without paying a fare.
- Exceptions: Agencies can still offer free or reduced fares to specific groups, such as:
- Seniors.
- Low-income riders.
- Students.
- Employees or members of organizations, if paid through an agreement with the agency.
- Waiver: The Secretary of Transportation can grant a waiver if the agency identifies a dedicated non-Federal source of operating revenue (e.g., state or local taxes) to fully fund the free policy.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new subsection (w) to Section 5323 of Title 49, U.S. Code, which previously had no federal ban on universal free fare policies for federally funded transit.
- Introduces the first nationwide restriction on such policies, tying them directly to federal funding eligibility.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Transit agencies must charge fares to most riders or risk losing federal grants; they may need to adjust budgets or seek waivers/local funding.
- Citizens: Ends blanket free rides for everyone, potentially increasing costs for regular users but preserving discounts for vulnerable groups; could encourage more fare revenue for system maintenance.
- International Relations: None apparent.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Transit Agencies: Primary targets, as recipients of federal funds (e.g., bus, rail, or subway operators).
- Riders: General public (must pay fares), plus protected groups like seniors, low-income individuals, and students.
- Federal Government: U.S. Department of Transportation (handles waivers and enforcement).
- Local/State Governments: May need to provide alternative funding for waivers.
- Sponsors: Representatives Perry, Moore (AL), Roy, Higgins (LA), Gill (TX), Harris (NC), and Steil.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Conditions federal funding on fare policies, enforceable through grant oversight; waivers add administrative flexibility.
- Constitutional: Ties strings to federal spending, which courts generally uphold (no apparent free speech or equal protection issues).
- Political: Promotes self-sustaining transit via fares over full subsidies; could spark debates on equity in public services.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Free Rides Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (3 pages)