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To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit universal free fare policies on public transportation, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill prohibits public transportation systems that receive federal funding from implementing universal free fare policies that would allow all riders to use the service without paying. Recipients of federal transit funding would still be permitted to offer targeted free or reduced fares to specific groups including seniors, low-income riders, students, and employees or members of organizations that have agreements for fare coverage. The Secretary of Transportation may waive this prohibition if a transit system can identify a dedicated source of non-Federal funding to cover the costs of a universal free fare policy. The bill aims to maintain fare revenue requirements for federally-funded transit systems while preserving the ability to provide assistance to specific rider populations.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10] (R-PA)
6 cosponsors
- Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] (R-TX)
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC)
- Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-LA)
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL)
- Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21] (R-TX)
- Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1] (R-WI)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Scott Perry’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- BRODIE GENERATIONAL CAPITAL PARTNERS $13,200
- SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $13,200
- COMMONWEALTH OF PA $8,350
- NULL $7,326
- FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE $7,300
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Scott Perry → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Mar 5, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
- Mar 5, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2026
Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Roy, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Gill of Texas, Mr. Harris of North Carolina, and Mr. Steil) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit universal free fare policies on public transportation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “No Free Rides Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON UNIVERSAL FARE FREE POLICIES.
Section 5323 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(w) Prohibition on Universal Fare Free Policies.—
“(1) In general.—A recipient of assistance under this chapter may not provide a universal fare free policy that allows all users of a public transportation service provided by or on behalf of such recipient from using such service without paying a fare.
“(2) Exception.—Nothing in this subsection shall prevent an recipient described in paragraph (1) from providing a targeted fare policy that allows a certain group of riders to ride for free or reduced charge including for—
“(A) seniors;
“(B) low-income riders;
“(C) students; or
“(D) employees or members of an organization whereby use of such public transportation is paid for through an agreement between an entity and the designated recipient.
“(3) Waiver.—The Secretary of Transportation may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) if a recipient of assistance under this chapter is able to identify a dedicated source of operating revenue for such a universal fare free policy from a non-Federal source.”. <all>
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