Senate Bill No. 240, reported by the Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs, proposes to reduce bus fares for veterans using state-owned or controlled bus public transportation services. The bill stipulates that starting July 1, 2024, any person who is a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103 of the general statutes, will be eligible to pay fifty percent of the standard fare. To receive this discount, the veteran must present a motor vehicle operator's license or identity card that indicates their status as a veteran, in accordance with subsection (e) of section 14-36h of the general statutes. This new provision is marked for insertion into the current law as a new section effective from the specified date.

The fiscal impact statement attached to the bill indicates that the Department of Transportation will incur costs due to the fare reduction, with potential costs ranging from approximately $136,000 to $567,000 annually, depending on the usage rate of the bus service by veterans. The bill also suggests a potential revenue gain for the Transportation Fund from veterans who choose to pay a fee for a license or ID card indicating their veteran status outside of the standard renewal timeframe. The ongoing fiscal impact is expected to continue into the future, subject to inflation and the number of veterans holding such license or ID cards. The bill does not clarify whether monthly pass purchases are eligible for the 50% discount. The bill has received a joint favorable vote from the Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee.