Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
In Committee
Summary
Creates new federal crimes and tougher penalties for ATM robberies and related acts. The bill would expand who and where federal ATM offenses apply by defining ATMs as network‑connected machines and removing the requirement that an ATM be on bank premises.
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- ATM users and servicers gain a clearer federal protection. The bill makes it a crime to use force, violence, or intimidation to take property from people using or servicing an ATM, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
- Transporters, contractors, and employees who load or deliver cash to ATMs are explicitly covered. Attacks or extortion tied to those duties are treated as federal offenses under the same rules.
- Criminal penalties are tiered and stiffer for violent or high‑value crimes. Theft over $1,000 can carry up to 10 years, theft under $1,000 up to 1 year, assault in connection with the offenses up to 25 years, and forced accompaniment or killing carries a minimum 10 years or life if death results.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger federal penalties for ATM crimes
If enacted, the bill would create new federal crimes for attacks on ATM users, servicers, and cash transport workers. It would make taking or trying to take property from someone at an ATM by force, violence, or intimidation punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Breaking into, tampering with, or stealing from an ATM would be a separate offense with penalties up to 10 years if the loss exceeds $1,000, or up to 1 year if $1,000 or less. Receiving or disposing of property taken from an ATM, knowing it was stolen, would carry the same penalties as the underlying theft. The bill would add assault penalties up to 25 years and set minimum sentences of at least 10 years (or life if death results) for killings or forced accompaniment tied to these offenses. The bill would define what counts as an ATM and would apply regardless of whether the machine sits on a bank's physical premises.
Broader federal bank robbery law
If enacted, the bill would change wording in the federal bank robbery law. It would replace the phrase "force and violence" with "force or violence." It would also add "or conspires to take," before the clause about taking property from a person. These textual edits could broaden the range of conduct prosecutable under the bank robbery statute.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov