A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
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 Safe Transit Act and aims to reduce crime on public transportation systems in the United States. It sets new rules that tie federal transit funding to improvements in local crime rates and safety measures. Transit agencies in larger urban areas must follow specific rules regarding fare collection, safety programs, and crime reporting. The legislation also creates mandatory penalties, including the withholding of federal funds, for state or local governments that fail to meet certain crime-related requirements. Additionally, the bill requires transit systems to set up programs focused on crime prevention, safety risk reduction, and family-friendliness.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?
The legislation mandates investments in security, lighting, and assault mitigation infrastructure to improve safety on public transit systems.
- Scored +6
Does this give the federal government more power?
The legislation increases federal oversight by conditioning transit funds on local compliance with specific criminal laws and safety performance targets.
- Scored +5
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill mandates crime prevention programs and increased policing presence on public transportation systems.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill preempts local and state discretion by conditioning federal transit funding on the adoption of specific criminal penalties for fare evasion and bail restrictions.
- Scored -5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Requiring the public display of suspects' images and identifying information prior to formal conviction undermines due process protections.
- Scored -4
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates the public display of security camera images of individuals accused of committing crimes before formal conviction, raising privacy concerns.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better Security Infrastructure: Section 2 of the bill amends title 49 to allow financial assistance to be used for projects that increase lighting, camera surveillance, and emergency telephone lines in or near public transportation systems. This can help make riders and transit workers feel safer.
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Protection for Transit Workers: Section 2 requires certain transit recipients to implement a crime prevention and personal safety risk reduction program, which includes deploying assault mitigation infrastructure and technology on buses, such as barriers to restrict unwanted entry into bus operator workstations. This provision aims to protect transit workers from assaults.
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New Reporting Tools for Riders: Section 2 requires transit recipients serving an urbanized area with a population of 200,000 or more to develop an electronic application. This app allows passengers to report instances of assaults and other safety deficiencies directly, helping improve accountability and safety tracking.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Federal Transit Funding: Section 2 establishes mandatory penalties where the Secretary of Transportation can withhold up to 100 percent of federal transit assistance from direct recipients if their state or local governments do not comply with specific laws. This includes requirements that fare evasion be a criminal offense and that laws do not permit the release of individuals charged with a transit crime on personal recognizance or unsecured bonds. If funds are withheld, it could negatively impact public transportation services and riders who rely on them.
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Public Display of Suspect Images: Section 4 requires recipients in urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or more to prominently display the image of any person captured by a security camera committing a crime on the system, along with identifying information, at every rail station and bus terminal for at least 45 days. This could raise privacy and due process concerns for individuals whose images are posted before a formal conviction.
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 in cities be better off under this? — Urban residents in major metropolitan areas will see direct investments in transit security and crime reduction. Would children be better off under this? — Improved security and family friendliness programs make public transit safer for children and families. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Safer transit systems directly benefit low-income households who heavily rely on public transportation. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Enhanced safety measures and lighting on public transit systems benefit senior riders. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans who utilize public transit will experience improved safety infrastructure and reduced crime.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill enhances safety reporting tools and security infrastructure, offering better protection for public transit passengers. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill allows for withholding federal transit assistance from non-compliant jurisdictions, which could reduce federal spending.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The legislation mandates investments in security, lighting, and assault mitigation infrastructure to improve safety on public transit systems.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill mandates crime prevention programs and increased policing presence on public transportation systems.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates the public display of security camera images of individuals accused of committing crimes before formal conviction, raising privacy concerns.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation increases federal oversight by conditioning transit funds on local compliance with specific criminal laws and safety performance targets. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Requiring the public display of suspects' images and identifying information prior to formal conviction undermines due process protections. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill preempts local and state discretion by conditioning federal transit funding on the adoption of specific criminal penalties for fare evasion and bail restrictions.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill explicitly includes projects to improve the cybersecurity of public transportation systems as eligible expenses.
- 9/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate