Text that goes for presidential sanction creates sources of financing and separates tariffs from the real cost of the service
Approved in a symbolic vote, this Wednesday (May 13, 2026), PL (bill) 3,278 of 2021, which creates the new legal framework for urban collective public transport in Brazil. The project now goes to presidential approval, as it has already been processed in the Senate. Here’s the (PDF – 227 kB)
The project, authored by the former senator and current minister of the (Tribunal de Contas da União), allows the Union’s permanent participation in the funding of urban public transport, currently concentrated mainly on fares paid by passengers and local subsidies from States and municipalities.
The federal government’s contributions will aim to increase the level of service, finance free tariffs, improve the quality of the operation and reduce exclusive dependence on the tariff paid by users.
The text also recognizes public transport as a fundamental social right and essential service and establishes national guidelines for planning, financing, regulation and operation.
NEW FINANCING MODELS
One of the main axes of the new framework is precisely the financing of public transport. Currently, most of the cost of the system is paid directly by passengers through fares. The project partially breaks with this logic by separating the public tariff from the operator’s remuneration.
The text determines that at least 60% of the Cide-Combustíveis collection – a tax charged on the tax charged on the import and sale of oil, natural gas and derivatives – must be allocated to collective public transport and urban mobility.
The proposal also authorizes the Union, States and municipalities to create permanent tariff subsidy programs to finance operations, free payments and expansion of service offerings.
Another planned change is that free fares and discounts – such as those for the elderly and students – will no longer be paid for by other passengers. According to the proposal, these benefits must have specific sources of public resources determined in the budget.
The project also creates national rules for concession and service provision contracts, including universalization targets, quality indicators, cost transparency and fleet energy transition objectives.
During the processing, however, the rapporteur in the Chamber, (MDB – PA), removed from the text provisions that allowed new charges to finance the system, such as fees on parking, urban congestion, transport applications and vehicle circulation. According to the congressman, the excerpts generated controversy and could face constitutional challenges.
Despite the changes, the approved text does not present a consolidated estimate of fiscal impact or detail the potential volume of public resources needed to finance the new model.
