PART Act
Sponsored By: Representative Baird
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create federal rules to prevent catalytic converter theft by expanding legal definitions, requiring visible VIN-linked part markings, setting seller record rules and traceable payments, funding VIN-stamping grants, and adding new criminal penalties.
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- Vehicle owners: Would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to update theft-prevention standards to cover catalytic converters within 180 days and to apply those rules to certain unsold late-stage vehicles six months after the update. This aims to make converters harder to remove and resell.
- Sellers and recyclers: Would force shops and parts buyers to keep transaction records for converters, ban sales of converters with markings removed, and require non-cash, traceable payment forms such as checks or electronic transfers.
- Law enforcement and local programs: Would create a conspicuous marking and law-enforcement-accessible database option, add a new federal theft offense with fines or up to five years imprisonment, and fund a VIN-stamping grant program with reporting for 10 years.
*Directs up to $7.0 million from unobligated American Rescue Plan Act balances for the VIN-stamping grant program, with a fallback appropriation to reach $7.0 million.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Tougher penalties and sales rules for converter theft
This bill would make stealing or trafficking catalytic converters a federal crime. It would ban selling converters with markings removed and require traceable payments, not cash or cryptocurrency. Penalties could include fines and up to five years in prison. A clear legal definition of which parts count as catalytic converters would apply. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Marking and tracking rules for catalytic converters
The vehicle safety agency would have 180 days to add converters to theft-prevention rules. Converters would need clear marks and a part ID that links to the vehicle VIN in a database for law enforcement. For vehicles not yet sold to the first buyer, the rule would start 6 months after the update. Companies seeking an NHTSA exemption would also need to certify their converters are marked as required.
Grants to stamp catalytic converters
The bill would fund a program within 180 days to help pay for die or pin stamping tools and high-heat paint to mark converters. Police, dealers, fleets, repair shops, and nonprofits could get grants, but not for wages. Grantees must offer stamping to the public, and the agency would prioritize high‑theft areas. Funding would be $7 million from ARPA balances, with a backup appropriation to reach $7 million.
New record rules for shops handling converters
If enacted, businesses that salvage, recycle, or repair vehicles or parts with precious metals would need to keep seller records for at least two years. Records would include seller contact, a copy of ID, make and model, the VIN or a marked part ID tied to the VIN, and the date of purchase. The requirement would start upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Baird
IN • R
Cosponsors
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Mann
KS • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Carter (GA)
GA • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Babin
TX • R
Sponsored 9/9/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Bice
OK • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rogers (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rulli
OH • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Morrison
MN • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Hinson
IA • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rouzer
NC • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Simpson
ID • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Kelly (MS)
MS • R
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rose
TN • R
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Leger Fernandez
NM • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Vasquez
NM • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Grothman
WI • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Feenstra
IA • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Meuser
PA • R
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Whitesides
CA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Bentz
OR • R
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Williams (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Pou
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Stefanik
NY • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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