Transit & Ground Passenger

Safe Transit Act

Bill Hagerty (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would tie federal public transit formula funding to crime reduction, letting the Transportation Secretary withhold up to 100 percent of a transit agency's federal funds starting in fiscal year 2028 if the state or local governments involved do not make fare evasion a crime, ban people who commit violent offenses on transit from riding, and bar release on personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bonds before trial, and it would also allow withholding of 25 or 50 percent of formula funds from large agencies whose fare evasion, assault, or murder rates exceed the national average by at least 25 or 50 percent respectively, with other withholding allowed when rates run at least 10 percent above average. It would additionally require transit agencies to spend at least 3 percent of their federal formula money on safety and crime prevention such as lighting, cameras, operator barriers, security personnel, and fare evasion infrastructure, with a possible lower share for smaller agencies, would require federally funded rail and bus vehicles procured after new regulations take effect to be equipped with inward and outward facing cameras and event recorders, and would require large agencies to display an annual Family Friendly Transit Scorecard letter grade and images of crime suspects captured on security cameras at their rail stations and bus terminals. This bill conditions transit agencies' federal formula funds on crime and fare evasion benchmarks, requires them to spend at least 3 percent on safety projects and cameras, and adds reporting, scorecard, and fare-gate procurement duties, while funding security work that includes intercity bus facilities.

Where it stands

S5492, the Safe Transit Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on September 23, 2026. It now sits with that committee, the stage where Senate bills most commonly stall, though committee action is not an absolute prerequisite.

Public Transit Mental Health Awareness Act

Brittany Pettersen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require recipients of federal public transportation assistance to display suicide prevention hotline information on their transit vehicles or facilities. The displays must indicate that the hotline is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, and the requirement would take effect one year after the bill is signed into law. This bill requires transit agencies, bus operators, and other ground passenger carriers that receive federal transit assistance to display suicide prevention hotline information on their vehicles and facilities within one year, at their own cost.

Where it stands

HR 10216 is currently referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs. This stage is the primary choke point, as the chair alone decides if the measure advances to a committee vote or remains in silence.

Bus Operator Safety and Security Act

Jack Reed (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require new fixed route buses that are 30 feet or longer and purchased with most federal funds to have a floor-to-ceiling barrier fully enclosing the driver's station. This safety requirement would take effect two years after the law is signed unless a union representing the majority of frontline workers agrees to waive it for specific vehicles. This bill requires transit agencies and other bus operators to buy new fixed route buses 30 feet or longer with federal funds only if the driver's station has a floor-to-ceiling barrier, raising procurement costs unless a majority union waives it.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on August 5, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls the scheduling of a markup.

PATH Act

Burgess Owens (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act allows transit agencies to use ridership forecasting methods that account for population density, population growth rate, and development planning activities when justifying projects for federal fixed guideway capital investment grants. It updates the statutory criteria to include these factors as beneficial to ridership forecasting in the project justification process. This bill lets transit agencies and public transportation authorities use ridership forecasts based on population density, growth rates, and development planning when justifying fixed guideway projects for federal capital investment grants.

Where it stands

The PATH Act was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 23, 2026, and no meetings are currently scheduled.

Transportation for Reentry Act

Emanuel Cleaver (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act requires transit agencies receiving federal grants to provide free public transportation to individuals released from prison for one year. It authorizes $40 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to cover the costs of this service. This bill requires transit agencies receiving federal urban and rural formula grants to give free rides for one year to people released from prison, reimburses their costs from $40 million annually, and adds annual reporting duties.

Where it stands

HR9898 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 23, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is noticed.

PATH Act

John R. Curtis (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would allow transit agencies to use ridership forecasting methods that account for population density, growth rates, and development planning when applying for federal fixed guideway capital investment grants. These expanded forecasting criteria would be used to determine whether transit projects are justified for federal funding. This bill lets transit agencies apply for federal fixed guideway capital investment grants using ridership forecasts that factor in population density, growth, and development planning, making it easier to justify new rail and bus projects.

Where it stands

The PATH Act was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 23, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls the scheduling of a markup. Although committee action is the ordinary route, the bill can reach the floor via unanimous consent or as an amendment if the committee does not act.

ASAP Act

Tammy Duckworth (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes $350 million annually for competitive grants to help state and local authorities upgrade the accessibility of older rail transit systems. These funds cover up to 80 percent of the costs for retrofitting stations and facilities to meet current disability access standards. This bill gives urban transit systems and commuter rail operators with older stations federal grants covering up to 80 percent of the cost of upgrading stations and facilities to meet current disability access standards.

Where it stands

The ASAP Act was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on July 22, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls markup scheduling. No upcoming meetings are currently scheduled for this measure.

Modal Parity in Permitting Act

Angela D. Alsobrooks (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill allows recipients of federal transit and passenger rail assistance to acquire real property interests for projects before environmental reviews are finished, provided no physical development occurs until those reviews are complete. It also directs the Federal Transit Administration to update its guidance documents within six months to reflect these new acquisition rules. This bill lets transit agencies and passenger rail operators use federal transit assistance to buy land for projects before environmental reviews finish, as long as no construction happens until reviews are complete.

Where it stands

S5080 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on July 22, 2026. The bill is currently in the committee stage with no meetings scheduled, while its House companion remains in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Transit & Ground Passenger.

Steve Womack (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would appropriate funds for transportation and housing agencies while setting new limits on federal loan guarantees and rescinding unobligated money. It also imposes specific spending conditions and administrative requirements on these government programs. This bill directly funds transit agencies, including urban transit systems and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, through federal formula grants for public transportation assistance, capital projects, and preventive maintenance.

Where it stands

HR 9170 was reported by the House Committee on Appropriations on June 5, 2026, following a markup vote and the filing of a written report. It is currently placed on the Union Calendar as Calendar No. 598, signifying eligibility for consideration in the Committee of the Whole.

BUILD America 250 Act

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Transit & Ground Passenger.

Sam Graves (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal, the BUILD America 250 Act, would authorize roughly five years of federal funding from fiscal 2027 through 2031 for highways, bridges, public transit, ferries, and passenger and freight rail, while rewriting the underlying federal transportation programs, grant formulas, and safety rules. It would also add new rail safety mandates such as two-person crews, cab cameras, and track inspection requirements, impose new fees on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and hazardous materials shippers, expand truck weight and access allowances on Interstates, create liability protections for app-based rideshare platforms, peer-to-peer car sharing, and vehicle owners, and tighten fraud screening for trucking and broker registrations. This bill directly funds urban, rural, intercity, and charter bus and transit operators with billions in formula and competitive grants while imposing reporting, asset management, safety certification, record-keeping, and bus equipment duties, and granting relief from drug testing, spare ratio, and inspection rules.

Where it stands

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure took H.R. 8870 up in a markup on May 21, 2026 and, on May 22, 2026, ordered it reported as amended by a yea-and-nay vote of 62 to 2, so the markup vote to report is the report-out event. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement appears on the record, and the disposition of some committee amendments, including an en bloc amendment offered by Mr. Johnson of Georgia, is unresolved, so the text as reported may still differ.

BUSES Act

Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill prohibits states and local governments from enforcing engine idling restrictions on school buses and over-the-road buses if the engine idles for less than 15 minutes. It also bans private citizens from suing bus operators for violating these specific idling rules and terminates any government programs that pay individuals for reporting such violations. This bill lets school bus and over-the-road bus operators idle their engines for up to 15 minutes without facing state or local fines or citizen lawsuits, and ends programs paying people to report such idling.

Where it stands

The bill was forwarded by the Subcommittee on Environment to the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 14, 2026, and was subsequently marked up by the full committee on September 2, 2026.

Streamlined Apportionment, Flexibility, and Efficiency Transit Act

Hillary J. Scholten (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would cut paperwork for public transit agencies by requiring apportionments of urbanized-area formula funds by December 1 of each fiscal year, letting recipients keep bus funds available for 5 fiscal years instead of 3, and allowing leftover asset-disposition funds to be reused for capital projects if the recipient certifies they will be. It would also direct the Transportation Secretary to minimize documentation for projects excluded from environmental review, encourage early consultation with state historic preservation offices, consolidate or eliminate discretionary grant reporting requirements within a year, and narrow the triennial review to prior and common deficiencies plus a random sample of no more than 5 compliance categories. This bill gives transit agencies five years instead of three to spend federal bus funds, while cutting environmental paperwork, grant reporting, and triennial audit requirements for transit systems and smaller city recipients.

Where it stands

HR8835 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 14, 2026, and sits at the start of the committee stage. The committee chair decides whether a hearing or markup is ever noticed, and a bill the chair never schedules lapses quietly when the Congress ends.

Medium Transit Intensive Cities Authorization Act of 2026

Salud O. Carbajal (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reserve 1.5 percent of a portion of federal urban transit formula funding for urbanized areas with populations between 200,000 and 999,999, and would split that money among qualifying mid-sized areas based on how many performance measures, such as passengers per capita, they meet or exceed compared with the average of urbanized areas over one million people. Areas qualify by beating that big-city benchmark in one or more performance categories, with amounts calculated by the Secretary using national transit database data. This bill reserves 1.5 percent of federal transit funds for transit agencies in urbanized areas of 200,000 to 999,999 people that meet performance benchmarks, giving qualifying operators a dedicated funding stream while slightly reducing other recipients' shares.

Where it stands

HR8785 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 13, 2026 and sits at the committee stage, the point where most House bills quietly lapse. No hearing or markup has been noticed, and the bill has not reached any calendar or floor position.

Shared Micromobility Investment Act

Val T. Hoyle (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would make shared micromobility projects, including investments in bikesharing and shared-scooter systems, eligible to receive federal funding under the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, the Carbon Reduction Program, and the Local and Regional Project Assistance program. This would let cities, transit agencies, and other sponsors use those existing grant programs to pay for bike-share and scooter-share projects alongside traditional transportation projects. This bill makes shared micromobility projects, including bikesharing and shared-scooter systems, eligible for federal surface transportation block grants, carbon reduction funds, and local project assistance, benefiting transit and ground passenger operators while increasing competition for existing grantees.

Where it stands

HR 8719 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 11, 2026 and has seen no further action. The bill now sits at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether any hearing or markup is noticed, while a bypass through leadership, suspension, a special rule, or discharge remains possible.

SAM Act of 2026

Kevin Kiley · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new competitive grant program at the Transportation Department giving out $100 million, with $60 million for fiscal year 2027 and $40 million for fiscal year 2028, to help deploy new bus models equipped with automated driving systems, reserving at least 15 percent of each year's funds for rural projects and allowing recipients to spend the money on acquiring or licensing autonomous vehicle software and software updates. It would also require the Department to set up at least one testing facility for autonomous shared mobility buses by January 1, 2027, and would expand several existing transit grant programs so their funds can be used to acquire or license automated driving software and related updates. This bill gives transit agencies and private bus operators competitive federal grants covering up to 80 percent of the cost to buy autonomous buses and the software that runs them.

Where it stands

HR8692 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 7, 2026 and sits at the start of the House committee stage. No markup or hearing appears in the record, and the referral is the only listed action.

Safe Transit for All Act of 2026

Dave Min (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require transit agencies that receive federal urbanized-area transit funding and serve areas of 200,000 or more people to create a program to collect data on passenger street harassment, including digital and in-person reporting tools, multilingual outreach, response protocols, and public posting of the data without personal details. It would also add that harassment data to the information these agencies already report to the federal National Transit Database. This bill requires federally funded urban transit agencies serving areas of 200,000 or more people to build harassment reporting systems, collect victim demographic data, and publish street harassment data, adding compliance costs for bus and passenger carriers.

Where it stands

HR8699, the Safe Transit for All Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on May 7, 2026. It sits at the referred stage, where any hearing or markup is at the committee chair's discretion, and the default honest expectation is quiet death when the chair never schedules action.

Transit Workforce Development Act

Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act allows transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of their bus and bus facility grants for workforce development and training instead of exclusively for zero-emission vehicles. It removes the requirement that these training funds be tied to a specific plan for managing the transition to electric buses. This bill lets transit agencies receiving federal bus and bus facility grants use up to 10 percent of those funds for workforce development and training, rather than restricting them to zero-emission vehicle projects tied to a transition plan.

Where it stands

The Transit Workforce Development Act was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 16, 2026. The bill is currently blocked in committee with no upcoming meetings scheduled.

Modal Parity in Permitting Act

Dina Titus (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill allows transit and passenger rail recipients to use federal assistance to acquire real property interests before environmental reviews are complete, provided the land is not physically developed until those reviews finish. It also directs the Federal Transit Administration to update its guidance to reflect these changes within six months of enactment. This bill lets transit agencies and passenger rail operators receiving federal transit assistance use those funds to buy or control land before environmental reviews finish, as long as they do not develop the land until reviews are done.

Where it stands

HR 8315 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 15, 2026. The companion Senate bill, S 5080, was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on July 22, 2026.

No CIG Act

Scott Perry (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would eliminate federal grants for fixed guideway public transportation projects and remove related administrative requirements. It would repeal the specific section of law that authorizes these capital investment funds. This bill repeals the federal program that gives capital investment grants to urban transit systems, so transit agencies would lose the federal funding they rely on to build new rail and bus rapid transit lines.

Where it stands

HR 8233 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 9, 2026, and no upcoming meetings are scheduled in the available calendar data.

Highways First Act

Scott Perry (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would prohibit the transfer of certain federal funds designated for transit projects to the Secretary of Transportation for highway purposes. It would also remove statutory provisions that currently allow for the transfer of amounts and non-government shares between these categories. This bill blocks urban transit systems from losing federal transit dollars, since it prohibits transferring funds meant for transit projects to highway purposes and removes the rules that allowed those transfers.

Where it stands

HR8231 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 9, 2026. No upcoming meetings are scheduled for this measure in the current calendar data.

To amend title 49, United States Code, to repeal certain employee protective arrangements, and for other purposes.

Scott Perry (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill repeals a specific subsection of federal law that currently mandates employee protective arrangements. This action removes the legal requirement for these particular labor protections in the transportation sector. This bill repeals the federal requirement that urban transit systems and bus operators provide employee protective arrangements, freeing transit companies from those labor compliance obligations while removing job security guarantees for their employees.

Where it stands

HR8232 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 9, 2026, where it awaits committee action. No hearing or markup has been scheduled, and no upcoming meetings appear in the calendar data.

Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act

Lateefah Simon (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill increases the federal share of capital costs to 90 percent for same-day paratransit projects and raises the operating cost share to 70 or 80 percent for projects meeting specific standards. It also requires the Federal Transit Administrator to issue minimum software standards within one year and restricts the use of federal funds for non-compliant third-party software after specified deadlines. This bill raises the federal share of grants to 90 percent of capital costs and 70 to 80 percent of operating costs for transit agencies and paratransit providers offering same-day paratransit, sets minimum software standards, and lets taxis and ride-hailing companies join those federally funded systems.

Where it stands

HR8128 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on March 26, 2026, and to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on March 27, 2026. The bill is currently waiting for the subcommittee chair to decide whether to schedule a markup, with no meetings scheduled in the available data.

National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act

Frederica S. Wilson (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a transit workforce center and award grants to a qualified nonprofit organization to operate it. The center would provide training, technical assistance, and resources to help public transportation providers recruit, train, and retain frontline workers. This bill gives public transportation providers, including urban transit systems and rural, suburban, and Tribal bus operators, access to a federally funded center offering training and technical assistance to recruit, train, and retain frontline workers.

Where it stands

HR8068 was referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on March 25, 2026 following its referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on March 24, 2026. No upcoming meetings are scheduled, and the companion Senate bill S4178 remains in the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act

Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a transit workforce center by awarding a grant to a qualified nonprofit organization. This center would provide training, technical assistance, and educational resources to support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of frontline public transportation workers. This bill funds a national transit workforce center that gives public transportation providers, including urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal bus operators, free training programs, technical assistance, and resources to recruit, hire, and retain frontline workers.

Where it stands

S4178 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on March 24, 2026. No future meetings are currently scheduled for this committee.

No Free Rides Act of 2026

Scott Perry (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill prohibits public transit agencies receiving federal assistance from implementing universal free fare policies for all riders. It allows exceptions for targeted groups like seniors, students, and low-income riders, or for agencies that secure dedicated non-federal funding to cover the lost fare revenue. This bill bars transit agencies, urban and rural bus systems, and other public passenger carriers that receive federal assistance from offering fare-free rides to everyone, allowing free fares only for targeted groups or with dedicated non-federal funding.

Where it stands

HR 7843 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on March 5, 2026, and currently awaits committee action. The committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled.

The Dalilah Law

Erin Houchin (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill restricts commercial driver's license eligibility to US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and holders of specific work visas while mandating English proficiency for all license tests and renewals. States that fail to recertify existing drivers within 180 days of enactment would lose all federal transportation funding. This bill restricts your hiring pool by barring commercial driver's licenses for non-citizens and non-permanent residents, requiring English proficiency tests, and forcing recertification of existing drivers within 180 days or states lose federal transportation funding.

Where it stands

HR 7793 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on March 4, 2026, and to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on March 5, 2026. The measure is currently stalled in the subcommittee, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup is noticed.

Investments in Rural Transit Act

Tina Smith (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill raises the federal funding share for rural transit projects to 80 percent and reserves at least 5 percent of certain transit funds for Tribal agencies, potentially covering up to 100 percent of their costs. It also expands joint procurement options to include local governments and nonprofits and establishes a new federal position to support Tribal transit capacity. This bill raises the federal funding share for rural transit projects to 80 percent, reserves at least 5 percent of transit funds for Tribal transit agencies with federal shares up to 100 percent, and expands joint procurement to local governments and nonprofits.

Where it stands

S. 3978 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on March 3, 2026, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs. The bill faces a quiet death if the committee takes no action, as most referred bills receive no further consideration.

Miranda’s Law

Josh Gottheimer (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to establish a national service that automatically alerts employers when a commercial driver’s license status changes due to violations or suspensions. It mandates that employers of school bus drivers participate in this service and exempts them from conducting separate annual driving record reviews. This bill requires employers of drivers with school bus endorsements, such as school districts and private bus companies, to join an automatic license-status alert system while exempting them from annual driving record reviews.

Where it stands

HR 7429 is referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit following its referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 9, 2026. The bill is currently blocked at the subcommittee stage with no scheduled meetings.

Miranda’s Law

Cory A. Booker (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to establish a national service that automatically notifies employers of changes in commercial driver license status due to violations or suspensions. Schools and transportation companies employing drivers with school bus endorsements must participate in this service and are exempt from conducting separate annual driving record reviews. This bill requires bus and school bus companies employing drivers with school bus endorsements to join a federal service that alerts them when a driver's license is suspended or violated, and exempts them from conducting annual driving record reviews.

Where it stands

S3807 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 9, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls further action.

Connecting Communities Through Transit Planning Act of 2026

Lateefah Simon (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill converts the transit-oriented development planning pilot into a permanent grant program and authorizes $75 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund predevelopment activities such as engineering design and site evaluation. It expands eligibility to include fixed guideway bus rapid transit projects and corridor-based investments in existing systems, while requiring grants to support accessibility improvements for people with disabilities and other transit-dependent groups. This bill makes transit agencies and bus operators eligible for a permanent $75 million annual grant program covering design and site work for fixed guideway bus rapid transit projects and corridor improvements, with required accessibility upgrades.

Where it stands

HR 7298 is currently blocked in the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, having been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 30, 2026. The subcommittee chair controls the next step, as no upcoming meetings are scheduled in the calendar data.

Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act

Marilyn Strickland (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill establishes a federal definition for transportation demand management and creates two annual $20 million set-asides for grants, one for rural mobility strategies and one for small congestion relief projects. It also expands eligibility for existing national infrastructure assistance programs to include transportation demand management strategies and removes population thresholds for congestion relief grants. This bill makes public transit agencies eligible for new rural mobility and small congestion relief grants, and funds vanpooling and mobility-as-a-service platforms that add demand for rural, charter, and ride-hail operators.

Where it stands

HR7301 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 30, 2026 and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on January 31, 2026. The companion bill S3694 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on January 27, 2026.

Maximizing Transportation Efficiency Act

Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill defines transportation demand management and allocates $40 million annually in new grants for rural mobility strategies and small congestion relief projects. It also expands eligibility for existing federal transportation funding programs to include these specific demand management activities. This bill makes public transit agencies eligible for new $40 million annual grants funding carpooling, vanpooling, and trip-planning programs, which expands transit and passenger ground operators' funding and service opportunities.

Where it stands

S3694 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works on January 27, 2026, where it remains without scheduled hearings or markups. The companion measure HR7301 was referred to a House subcommittee on January 31, 2026, and no Senate floor action has occurred.

BRIDGE Act

Tammy Duckworth (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would establish a competitive grant program to help public transportation operators pay for the maintenance, replacement, or rehabilitation of commuter rail bridges. It authorizes $1.5 billion in funding for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to support these capital projects. This bill offers public transportation operators, including commuter rail transit agencies, competitive federal grants covering the capital costs of maintaining, replacing, or rehabilitating commuter rail bridges, with $1.5 billion available annually through 2031.

Where it stands

The BRIDGE Act was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on January 27, 2026, where the chair controls whether any action occurs. This committee referral is the current posture, with no scheduled hearings or markups indicated in the available calendar data.

UBER Act

Josh Brecheen (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with ride-share or mobility companies unless every driver meets specific age, English proficiency, safety, licensing, and road test requirements. Companies that fail to certify compliance with these standards would face a five-year ban from receiving federal contracts. This bill bars federal agencies from contracting with ride-share, taxi, limo, and other shared-use mobility companies unless they certify that every driver meets age, English, licensing, safety, and road test rules, with a five-year ban for non-compliance.

Where it stands

The UBER Act was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on January 21, 2026, where the chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs. The companion Senate bill S3121 remains in the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs without reported action.

PATH to Education Act

Maggie Goodlander (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill establishes new federal grant programs for public transit providers partnering with eligible educational institutions to improve transportation access for students and Head Start families. It mandates funding set-asides totaling $10 million from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to support these transit improvements. This bill gives public transit providers, including urban, rural, and interurban bus operators, new federal grants totaling $10 million through fiscal 2031 to fund routes, stops, and services that carry students and Head Start families to school and programs.

Where it stands

HR 7099 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on January 15, 2026 and to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on January 16, 2026. The companion bill S 3661 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on January 15, 2026.

PATH to Education Act

Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill establishes a federal grant program for public transit providers to fund new routes, stops, and service adjustments that improve transportation access to community colleges, Head Start centers, and other specified educational institutions. The measure sets aside a total of $12 million from fiscal year 2027 through fiscal year 2031 to finance these projects, with priority given to partnerships serving institutions where more than 25 percent of students receive federal Pell Grants. This bill gives public transit and bus providers federal grants, totaling $12 million through fiscal year 2031, to fund new routes, stops, and service changes that connect students to community colleges and Head Start centers.

Where it stands

S3661 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on January 15, 2026, leaving it in committee without a scheduled hearing or markup. The companion measure HR7099 remains referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit as of January 16, 2026, with no chamber vote recorded.

District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act

Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act would allow the District of Columbia to compete for federal transportation funds in the same way as states for bus formula grants, high-density state apportionments, culvert restoration projects, and safe street programs. These changes would grant the District direct eligibility for money that was previously restricted to state applicants. This bill lets District of Columbia urban transit systems compete directly for federal bus formula grants previously limited to states, expanding funding for DC bus operators while increasing competition for state transit agencies in the same funding pools.

Where it stands

HR 6950 is currently in the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit following referrals to the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on January 6, 2026, and to the subcommittee on January 7, 2026. The subcommittee chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled for this measure.

Bus Operator Safety and Security Act

Shomari Figures (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires new fixed route buses purchased with federal funds to have floor-to-ceiling barriers around the operator workstation starting two years after enactment. The requirement applies to buses 30 feet or longer with a 10-year useful life unless a union agrees to waive it. This bill requires transit agencies and fixed-route bus operators that buy new federally funded buses 30 feet or longer to purchase vehicles with floor-to-ceiling barriers protecting the operator, raising fleet costs unless a union waives the rule.

Where it stands

The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act is referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit following its December 11, 2025, referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is in the committee stage where the subcommittee chair controls scheduling.

Empowering App-Based Workers Act

Pramila Jayapal (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would require digital labor platform companies to disclose detailed information about their monitoring tools, pay algorithms, and pricing methods to workers and consumers while capping the platform's fee share for ride-hailing services at 25 percent. It would also prohibit the use of individualized data for setting different pay rates for similar tasks and ban predispute arbitration agreements and non-disclosure contracts between platforms and workers. This bill caps the fee ride-hail and taxi platforms in this industry can charge at 25 percent of the fare and requires them to disclose pay algorithms, pricing, and monitoring tools to drivers and riders.

Where it stands

HR6646 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on December 11, 2025, and no upcoming meetings are scheduled for this measure. The companion bill S2488 remains referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with no reported action.

Moving Transit Forward Act of 2025

Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill authorizes federal grants to urbanized areas for improving public transportation service quality and frequency, as well as for enhancing safety and security infrastructure. It sets the federal share of operating expense costs at 80 percent and requires local agencies to maintain their previous levels of non-federal spending to qualify for the funds. This bill gives urban transit agencies federal grants covering 80 percent of operating costs and safety and security upgrades, provided they maintain prior local spending, and bars using those funds to switch fixed route bus service to third-party on-demand providers.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on December 11, 2025. It is currently in committee with no scheduled meetings, placing it at a stage where the chair controls whether a markup occurs.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025

Doris O. Matsui (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the diesel emissions reduction program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for five more years, changing its authorization end date from 2024 to 2029. This keeps the existing federal program, which funds projects to cut diesel engine pollution, operating through fiscal year 2029. This bill extends federal diesel emissions reduction grants, rebates, and loans through 2029, letting transit agencies, bus and school bus operators keep getting funding to retrofit buses or replace old diesel engines with cleaner ones.

Where it stands

The House passed the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 on September 15, 2026 under suspension of the rules by a two-thirds vote of 343 to 79, and the Senate received it on September 16, 2026, read it twice, and placed it on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 624. The bill is no longer before the House and now awaits Senate action, with identical Senate passage required before anything can go to the President.

Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act

David Schweikert (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would allow contractors to keep operating their contract postal units if the Postal Service decides to end their agreements for reasons other than the contractor breaking the rules. The units would continue under the previous terms, but the Postal Service would generally stop making payments to the contractor unless the Postmaster General decides otherwise.

Where it stands

HR 5530 was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on September 19, 2025, and is currently in committee with no further actions recorded. No upcoming meetings are scheduled for this measure in the available calendar data.

Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025

Dusty Johnson (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The measure would prevent the Department of Transportation from awarding contracts or grants to entities that use or buy LiDAR technology from specific foreign companies or countries. It also restricts the use of federal loan and grant funds for purchasing this type of technology, with an effective date on June 30, 2026.

Where it stands

The bill is currently before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, having been referred there on December 1, 2025, after initial referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 29, 2025. No meetings are currently scheduled, and the subcommittee chair controls whether the measure proceeds to a hearing or markup.

Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act

Jahana Hayes (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the Clean School Bus Program, which is already in law, by reauthorizing it for the new years 2027 through 2031 instead of ending in 2026, keeping federal grants flowing so school districts can replace older school buses with cleaner ones. No new program, funding amount, or requirement is created, and the text simply continues the existing program for five more years. This bill extends the Clean School Bus Program through 2031, letting school bus operators keep receiving federal grants to replace older diesel buses with cleaner vehicles.

Where it stands

HR10782, the Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on October 9, 2026. The committee now holds the bill, and its chair will decide whether any hearing or markup is ever noticed.

Better Transit for Riders Act

Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Federal Transit Administration to convene a task force of up to 15 experts that, within about two years, develops recommendations and reports to Congress on benchmarks for how transit agencies in the same metro areas spend funds, coordinate planning, integrate fares and data, and improve rider experience. It is advisory only, since the text directs no agency to adopt the task force's recommendations. This bill convenes an expert task force that studies how transit agencies spend funds and coordinate fares and service, and it gives first and last mile transit providers a voice, though its recommendations are advisory only.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on October 1, 2026 and sits at the start of the committee stage, with no hearing or markup scheduled in our calendar data. The chair decides whether a hearing or markup is ever noticed, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than an absolute prerequisite.

Improving Rural Transportation Act

Josh Riley (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would let the Secretary of Transportation create a grant program, though does not require one, that funds demonstration projects for advanced passenger transportation technologies, including micro-transit, micromobility devices, automated vehicles, traveler tools, and rural ride-share programs, in communities of up to 200,000 people, with federal funds covering no more than 80 percent of a project's cost. Grant applicants, which can include state transportation departments, local governments, transit agencies, planning organizations, or other entities the Secretary approves, would need to describe collaboration with colleges, governments, planning bodies, nonprofits, or private companies, and projects showing scalability, reliability, cost efficiency, and real-world validation would get priority. This bill lets transit agencies, local governments, and other eligible applicants win federal grants covering up to 80 percent of demonstration projects for micro-transit, automated vehicles, rural ride-share programs, and intermodal connections linking local transit and intercity bus systems.

Where it stands

HR10598 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on September 24, 2026, so it sits at the earliest committee stage. The committee's chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup, and the House calendar is a list of eligible bills rather than a schedule, so referral alone commits the committee to nothing.

SECURES Act of 2026

Josh Gottheimer (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for new federal standards requiring seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of enactment. The rulemaking process must consider the safety benefits of lap and shoulder belts, existing state requirements, and innovative technologies for belt detection and reminders. This bill directs the Transportation Secretary to write new federal rules requiring seat belts on all new school buses, so school bus operators and districts will face updated vehicle standards and higher procurement costs for future fleet purchases.

Where it stands

The SECURES Act of 2026 is at the committee stage, having been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 9, 2026, and to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on February 10, 2026. The subcommittee chair controls whether a hearing or markup is scheduled, though leadership may bypass committee action through suspension or a special rule.

SECURES Act of 2026

Cory A. Booker (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for new federal standards mandating seat belts on all new school buses within 180 days of enactment. The proposed standards would consider lap and shoulder belt systems and technologies for monitoring belt usage. This bill directs new federal seat belt standards for all new school buses, meaning school bus operators and districts will need to buy buses with belts and usage monitoring, raising fleet costs.

Where it stands

The SECURES Act of 2026 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 9, 2026. No hearings or markups are currently scheduled, and the companion House bill HR7428 remains in subcommittee.

VERIFY CDL Act

Andy Biggs (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require states to verify an applicant's employment authorization through the E-Verify program before issuing or renewing a commercial driver's license. The verification must occur at the time of the application for either the initial license or its renewal. This bill requires states to verify employment authorization through E-Verify before issuing or renewing any commercial driver's license, restricting the pool of eligible drivers for transit agencies, bus operators, and passenger ground carriers and slowing their hiring.

Where it stands

HR 7200 is referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Highways and Transit as of January 23, 2026. No meetings are currently scheduled for this measure.

School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Camera Act

Janelle S. Bynum (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program for state educational agencies to purchase, equip, and maintain stop-arm safety cameras on school buses. It also requires a study on the benefits of mandating such technology and the publication of best practices for data privacy and revenue sharing. This bill funds grants to state educational agencies to buy new school buses equipped with stop-arm safety cameras and retrofit existing school buses, giving school bus operators upgraded safety equipment at no cost to them.

Where it stands

The bill is in the committee stage, having been referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on January 23, 2026, following its initial referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Education and Workforce on January 22, 2026. Procedurally, this multiple referral requires consideration by each named committee, with the chair of each panel controlling whether a markup is scheduled.

Transit Bus Affordability Act

Maxwell Frost (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Comptroller General to review factors driving high costs in transit bus manufacturing and procurement to recommend ways to reduce expenses and improve efficiency. A report with these recommendations must be submitted to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment. This bill orders a federal study of what makes transit buses so expensive to buy and asks for cost-cutting recommendations, which could eventually lower procurement costs for transit agencies that buy buses with public funds.

Where it stands

HR4447 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 16, 2025, and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on July 17, 2025. No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the calendar data for this measure.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025

Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the federal diesel emissions reduction program by extending its authorization through 2029 instead of 2024. This would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to keep awarding grants under the program to projects that cut diesel engine pollution, such as cleaner school and employee buses. This bill extends federal diesel emissions reduction grants and rebates through 2029, so transit agencies, school bus operators, and other passenger bus fleets can keep getting funding to retrofit, repower, or replace diesel buses.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a markup on October 29, 2025, voted to report S. 2235, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025, without a written report, and the bill was placed the same day on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 226. It now awaits the majority leader's decision to call it up, and no written report is owed or expected.

DC ROADS Act

Scott Perry (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar the District of Columbia Council from enacting and the Mayor from enforcing any requirement that imposes a congestion toll, defined as any charge for entering or passing through roadways, bridges, tunnels, or ramps within or entering the District. It would also add this prohibition to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act as a limit on the local government's lawmaking powers. This bill spares bus operators, taxis, and other ground passenger carriers entering or crossing DC from any congestion toll, while blocking toll revenue the District might have used to fund local transit programs.

Where it stands

The DC ROADS Act was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on May 13, 2026, and on May 20, 2026 the committee held a markup and voted by a 22 to 18 roll call to order the bill reported, as amended. No written report has been filed and no calendar placement appears on the record, so the bill is not yet on a House calendar.

Freedom Haulers Act

Brian J. Mast (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would have the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issue rules within 180 days extending, from 12 to 24 months after military separation, the period in which service members can use the waiver of the commercial driver's license skills test. It would also require states to run an 'even exchange' program that waives the knowledge test, the driving test, and the testing for passenger, tank vehicle, and hazardous materials endorsements for current and former service members who held designated military driving jobs, operated similar commercial vehicles, and meet clean-record and other certification conditions, while keeping medical, background check, and other qualification requirements in place. This bill waives the passenger endorsement driving and knowledge tests for covered military operators, easing hiring for school, employee, and charter bus companies.

Where it stands

HR10099, the Freedom Haulers Act, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on August 13, 2026. The bill is at the earliest committee stage, where the chair decides whether to notice a hearing or markup, though committee action is not the only possible route to the floor.

Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act

Mark DeSaulnier (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes federal grants to state and local governments for developing value capture mechanisms to fund public transportation and affordable transit-oriented development. It also requires the Secretary to establish voluntary standards and best practices for these value capture policies within specific deadlines. This bill gives state and local governments federal grants to create value capture funding for public transportation, opening new long-term revenue for transit agencies and public transportation providers.

Where it stands

HR 10019 was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on August 3, 2026, where the chair controls whether a markup is scheduled.