WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 3854

Allows MTA to establish discount fares for full-time undergraduate students

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

Authorizes the MTA to set discounted transit fares for full-time undergraduate students, reducing costs for students and enabling future eligibility rules and rollout.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3854

Summary of Bill S.3854

Overview

Bill S.3854 would authorize the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to establish discount fares specifically for full-time undergraduate students. The bill is currently in committee stage, having been introduced on January 30, 2025 and referred to the Transportation committee.

What the bill would do

  • Authorize the MTA to create and implement discount fare options for full-time undergraduate students.
  • The text provided does not specify the discount level, eligibility criteria, funding mechanisms, or implementation timeline. Those details would be determined through future rulemaking or subsequent legislative action if the bill advances.

Key provisions (as stated)

  • The core provision grants the MTA the authority to establish discount fares targeted at full-time undergraduate students.
  • No additional specifics (such as who qualifies beyond “full-time undergraduate,” the amount of discount, duration, eligibility verification, or impact on fare revenue) are included in the summary text provided.

Who is affected

  • Full-time undergraduate students: potential beneficiaries of reduced fares for transit usage.
  • MTA: would gain new statutory authority to design and implement a discounted-fare program.
  • Higher education institutions and student services entities: potential collaborators for eligibility verification or outreach (not specified in the bill text but commonly relevant in such programs).
  • Taxpayers and consumers who fund or subsidize MTA operations: indirect fiscal impacts depending on the discount structure and enrollment participation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Referred to Transportation. This indicates the bill is at the committee stage and has not yet advanced to floor consideration.
  • Introduced: January 30, 2025.
  • Related actions: The bill has numerous companion or related indices in prior sessions (e.g., A 1770 and various S and A numbers listed as prior-session companions), suggesting ongoing interest in discounted fare concepts across sessions.

Fiscal and operational considerations (general)

  • Fiscal impact will depend on the discount level and participation rate among eligible students.
  • Operational considerations may include verification of full-time undergraduate status, coordination with institutions, and administrative costs to administer discounts.
  • Any discount policy would likely require reporting or oversight provisions to monitor effectiveness and financial impact (not specified in the current text).

Related legislation

  • Companion bills and prior-session counterparts exist, including A 1770 (companion) and several other Assembly and Senate numbers listed under “Related Bills.” These reflect parallel or historic interest in student discounts and transit affordability.

Next steps and questions for stakeholders

  • What discount level and eligibility verification would be proposed?
  • How would the program be funded (fare revenue impact, subsidies, or grants)?
  • What would be the rollout timeline and required approvals (MTA board, state, or budget actions)?
  • How would participation be measured (institution partnership, student enrollment verification)?

This summary captures the bill’s primary objective and the current state of its provisions. Details on implementation would emerge if the bill progresses and subsequent amendments are adopted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.