New York lawmakers are moving ahead with a proposal that would force the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to alert riders whenever bed bugs turn up on trains, subways or buses, and to do it fast. The bill would require the agency to post alerts or send emails and texts within 24 hours of a confirmed discovery so riders can take precautions and avoid carrying the pests home.
What the bill would do
The measure, introduced in the Assembly as A1906 and carried in the Senate as S4937, directs the authority to “shall establish a system to notify customers of bed bug infestations ... within twenty-four hours of discovering such infestation.” The notification “may include” posts on the MTA website or messages sent by email or text, according to the New York State Senate.
The Assembly passed A1906 in May 2025, and the Senate version is currently before that chamber’s Transportation Committee, according to the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate.
Sponsor's pitch
Assemblymember William Colton, who sponsored the bill, says the MTA has pushed back against the idea of flagging infestations for customers. In a statement quoted by the New York Post, Colton said the MTA “ - for no good reason - has been resistant about alerting its customers when an infestation has been detected.”
Supporters argue that fast, transparent notices would help riders avoid bringing bed bugs into their homes and could slow the spread of infestations, a point laid out in the Assembly memo supporting A1906. Those goals are detailed in New York State Assembly documents.
Past incidents lawmakers point to
Backers are not short on examples. In 2018, multiple city buses were pulled from service after bed bug reports triggered a scare, as reported by Gothamist. Then in January 2020, a single bed bug sighting at a Forest Hills control tower led to an evacuation and fumigation that disrupted rush hour subway service, according to NY1.
MTA already treats infestations and already sends alerts
The MTA already contracts for bed bug inspection and treatment. A procurement document spells out inspection and treatment services and includes response windows for bed bug calls, requiring contractors to respond and perform treatment within 24 hours of a request, according to MTA procurement records.
The agency also runs an opt-in Service Alerts system that can send route-specific email and text notices to subscribers, a tool lawmakers say could easily be used for bed bug warnings. The program is described in an MTA release that notes customers can already receive tailored emails and texts about service.
Practical questions
Critics and some transit watchers want to know how far the alerts would reach. The bill allows notifications via webpage, email or text, but it does not spell out whether the MTA would have to contact everyone who rode an affected vehicle or only riders who have signed up for alerts.
The Assembly memo says the measure would have no fiscal impact and would take effect immediately if it is enacted, according to the New York State Assembly. The Senate sponsor memo notes that similar bills have passed the Assembly in past sessions but stalled in the upper chamber, a history reflected in New York State Senate records.
What's next
The bill currently sits with the New York State Senate’s Transportation Committee, where lawmakers will decide whether to move it to the full Senate. The committee referral is listed in New York State Senate files.
In the meantime, riders who want real-time updates on service changes and system problems can sign up for the MTA’s Service Alerts on the agency’s website. If the measure becomes law, its bed bug notification requirement would take effect immediately under the bill language.
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