Bill · S. 2478· Senate(119-S-2478)
Freedom to Move Act
- Introduced
- 7/28/2025
- Last activity
- 7/28/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Edward Markey
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Freedom to Move Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a competitive grant program known as "Freedom to Move Grants." These grants are intended to help various entities implement fare-free public transportation and improve existing transit services. The program aims to support the expansion of safe, accessible, and reliable mass transit to improve community livability. Funding can be used to cover lost fare revenue and to upgrade transit infrastructure. The Act targets improvements for underserved communities and various demographic groups. The program includes a provision for a 5-year grant duration.
Yes· 3 of 19
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8
The bill provides fare-free transit and prioritizes service for low-income communities.
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?+8
The bill provides significant funding to implement fare-free service and improve transit infrastructure.
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically funds accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced Transit Costs: The program provides grants to cover lost fare revenue to implement fare-free public transportation (Section 4(a), Section 4(e)(1)).
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Improved Community Livability: The Act aims to support municipalities in improving and expanding access to safe, accessible, and reliable mass transit systems (Section 2).
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Enhanced Infrastructure and Safety: Funds can be used for bus stop safety, accessibility improvements, pedestrian and bike shelters, signage, painted bus lanes, and signal priority systems (Section 4(e)(2)).
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Better Service for Underserved Areas: The bill prioritizes improving and expanding service in underserved communities (Section 4(e)(2)) and encourages bus network redesigns to prioritize consistent service for low-income and historically underserved communities (Section 4(b)(2)).
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Increased Employment and Operational Capacity: Grants can cover operational costs to meet the demands of increased ridership, including the hiring and training of personnel (Section 4(e)(2)(G)).
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End to Criminalization: The Act requires applicants to describe how they will eliminate fare evasion policies and end the criminalization of individuals evading fares (Section 4(b)(5)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Increased Operational Burdens: Applicants must estimate additional costs that may arise from increased ridership, such as fuel, personnel, and maintenance (Section 4(b)(6)).
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Safety Concerns for Staff: The bill notes the need for statistics on assaults on transit employees and requires descriptions of trainings and policies to protect employees (Section 4(b)(7)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+8Good For People With Disabilities+7Good For Urban Residents+5Good For African Americans+4Good For Hispanic Americans+4Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Seniors+4Good For Children+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Women+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform+6Improves Disability Rights+5Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+8Improves Rural Development+3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+4Improves Economic Growth+2
- 7/28/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts