Lateefah Simon (D-CA)
Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act and was introduced to improve transportation options for individuals with disabilities. It aims to deploy more same-day paratransit services and establish minimum standards for paratransit technology. The bill updates several sections of title 49 in the United States Code concerning grants for capital projects and operating assistance. It increases federal funding percentages for projects that provide same-day paratransit service, especially when using vehicles operated exclusively by personnel employed by the recipient. Additionally, the legislation requires the Administrator to issue minimum standards for paratransit software and technologies within one year of enactment.
Yes· 3 of 37
- Scored +9
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
- Scored +8
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?
Directly modernizes and funds same-space paratransit services across urban and rural areas.
- Scored +8
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
Significantly improves transit access, mobility, and digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases federal matching grant percentages for capital and operating assistance projects.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Funding for Capital Projects: Section 3 amends sections 5310, 5307, and 5311 of title 49 to state that grants for capital projects directly related to same-day paratransit services shall be equal to 90 percent of the net capital costs. This is a positive outcome because it provides strong financial backing to help transit agencies build out and improve same-day services for individuals with disabilities.
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Higher Operating Assistance for Compliant Services: Section 3 also increases federal operating assistance up to 70 percent for projects providing same-day paratransit service in compliance with minimum standards, and up to 80 percent if those vehicles are operated exclusively by personnel employed by the recipient. This provision benefits workers by encouraging direct employment and helps transit agencies keep services running for riders.
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Technology and Accessibility Standards: Section 4 requires the Administrator to issue minimum software and technology standards within one year, which includes accessibility compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and data storage on cloud infrastructure located in the United States. This benefits riders by ensuring that digital booking interfaces and mobile applications are truly accessible and secure.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restriction on Grant Funds for Non-Compliant Software: Section 4 establishes that beginning no later than one year after final minimum standards are published, no funds awarded under sections 5307 or 5310 shall be used to acquire or utilize third-party software that does not meet the new standards, with a two-year limit applied to section 5311 funds. While intended to enforce quality, this could potentially create a burden or disruption for transit agencies and providers currently using software that fails to meet the upcoming federal rules.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Supports growing senior populations who increasingly rely on paratransit as they age. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Reduces transportation cost barriers for low-income individuals with disabilities. Would retired people be better off under this? — Helps retirees maintain mobility and independence as age-related travel limitations increase. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Updates rural formula grants to enhance paratransit access outside major metropolitan centers. Would union members be better off under this? — Provides higher federal operating matching shares when vehicles are operated exclusively by direct employees. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improves urbanized area formula grants for same-day paratransit deployment. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Assists elderly or disabled veterans needing flexible paratransit services. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Addresses mobility barriers frequently cited by young adults with disabilities. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Supports minority communities who often experience disparities in transit access. Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides clear federal standards and funding opportunities for transit and technology vendors. Would children be better off under this? — Helps children with disabilities and their families access specialized transportation. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Supports Hispanic individuals with disabilities who face mobility and transportation barriers. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Aids working-age adults with disabilities in reaching employment and daily activities. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves community mobility options for middle-class households needing paratransit. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Extends rural paratransit funding options that benefit Native American reservation transit systems. Would students be better off under this? — Helps students with disabilities reach educational institutions more reliably. Would women be better off under this? — Benefits women, who statistically make up a larger share of caregivers and public transit users.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — Directly modernizes and funds same-space paratransit services across urban and rural areas. Does this invest in rural communities? — Updates formula grants for rural areas to support same-day paratransit capital and operating costs. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Optimizes routing and promotes shared transit solutions which can reduce overall vehicle trips.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Significantly improves transit access, mobility, and digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Helps connect individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities, aiding economic self-sufficiency. Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — Better transportation options can indirectly improve access to polling places.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Establishes robust cybersecurity and software accessibility standards for paratransit users. Is this likely to create jobs? — Encourages transit agencies to expand same-day paratransit services and directly employ personnel. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improves mobility and employment access for individuals with disabilities. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Involves transit technology and for-hire transportation providers in standards consultation. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Engages labor organizations representing frontline workers during standard setting. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases federal matching grant percentages for capital and operating assistance projects.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Enforces strict data ownership for transit agencies and protects personally identifiable rider information. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Requires web accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1) for paratransit booking platforms.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandates data sharing systems and agency portals to support transportation planning. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Protects personally identifiable information of riders within software integration frameworks. Does this give the federal government more power? — Empowers the federal Administrator to issue binding paratransit technology and software standards.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Requires paratransit software to comply with SOC 2, ISO 27001, and domestic cloud infrastructure storage. Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Improves transportation access for elderly and disabled veterans relying on public paratransit.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Enhances transportation options for individuals with disabilities to reach medical appointments.
- 8/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/27/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 3/26/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York