Sign Up
SB 1243 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING BUS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

SB 1243 exempts veterans with a state-issued veteran ID (like a driver's license marking veteran status) from paying bus fares on state-operated routes. It also creates a program allowing public high schools (grades 9-12) to obtain discounted or free bus passes for students, requiring schools to negotiate contracts with the Department of Transportation to cover costs. The DOT must publish program details online by August 2025 and report annually on pass usage and expenses. This directly affects veterans seeking free bus access and school districts participating in the student pass program.
Issues: ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExempts veterans from bus fares and creates student pass programs, expanding public transit access and funding via DOT contracts.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExempts veterans with state-issued veteran ID from bus fares, directly expanding transportation benefits for veterans per bill's explicit language.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → TRA Joint Favorable Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised to remove low-income passenger eligibility and change the funding structure. The original version provided fare-free bus service for veterans, high school students, and low-income passengers using state funds. The substitute version limits the program to veterans and high school students, with schools potentially paying for student passes to cover costs.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing low-income passengers (SNAP, LIHEAP, and Operation Fuel recipients) from the fare-free program. The program now only covers veterans and high school students.
ELIGIBILITY

Low-income passengers (SNAP, LIHEAP, and Operation Fuel recipients) were removed from the fare-free transportation program.

FISCAL

Funding structure changed from state-funded fare-free service to a model where schools may pay for student passes to ensure the program does not increase departmental costs.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that participating schools negotiate contracts with the Department of Transportation and may be required to pay compensation or reimbursement for student passes.

TECHNICAL

Bill title was shortened and the effective date for Section 1 was changed from 'from passage' to 'July 1, 2025'.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Transportation
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.