Auto Theft Prevention Act

New federal grants to fight auto theft

If enacted, the bill would create an Auto Theft Prevention Grant Program at the COPS Office. The Director would have to set up the program within 60 days. It would authorize $30 million for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030. Grants would go to a State attorney general that files an application showing need, prior-year actions, and a plan to use and evaluate funds. Each recipient State would have to give at least 50% of its grant as competitive local subgrants prioritized for localities with higher auto theft the prior year, and at least 25% to State law enforcement agencies. Any remaining amounts could be awarded as competitive subgrants to local or State agencies, with local subgrants following the same prioritization. Grant money would only pay for activities to combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking, such as vehicles, license-plate readers and their subscriptions and data storage, hiring officers and support staff, overtime and extra pay, training, joint task forces, and data collection or research. Administrative costs paid from a grant could not exceed 5% of the grant amount. The bill would also add auto-theft prevention to the list of permitted uses of existing COPS grant funds.