YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesTransparency & Accountability$30 million a year through 2030 for police to fight car theft — including license plate readers and new officers.
Civil Liberties
- License plate reader deployment — Grants may fund readers plus their data storage costs
Transparency & Accountability
- Grant accountability — States must document prior-year actions and plan how to measure results
The details
State and local police would get federal grants aimed squarely at car theft. The program would run through the Justice Department's community policing office. Congress would authorize $30 million a year from 2026 through 2030. States with more auto thefts would be prioritized for awards. At least half of each state's grant must pass down to local departments, and a quarter to state agencies. Departments could spend the money on patrol vehicles and license plate readers. The grants would also cover the subscription and data storage costs those readers carry. Money could fund new officers, overtime, training, and joint task forces. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of the grant. Auto theft would also be added to the list of uses for regular community policing grants.
Congressional Summary
Auto Theft Prevention ActThis bill establishes a grant program to combat auto theft and stolen automobile trafficking.Specifically, the bill directs the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants for state and local law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. The bill also allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to combat auto thefts and stolen automobile trafficking.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-12-18
- Date Added
- 2026-07-23
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.