According to the report, the Massachusetts Democrats' “Freedom to Move Act” proposal highlights the success of free bus pilots in Boston and the state's 15 regional transit authorities. The lawmakers argue that the experiments helped Massachusetts become a “national leader in fare-free transit policy.” According to Markey and Pressley's report, Massachusetts regional bus ridership is up 14% from pre-pandemic levels, while national ridership declined 19%. According to the Globe, the state budget allocates $40 million for fare-free pilots, which transit officials say is insufficient to sustain and expand services, with extensions funded by exhausted federal pandemic dollars. Boston's free bus routes 23, 28, and 29 were initially funded by federal pandemic dollars that expired in June, with the program extended through the end of 2026.