This bill creates a new federal grant program to help state and local police departments fight car theft and the illegal sale of stolen vehicles. The federal government will set aside $30 million per year from 2026 through 2030 for this purpose.

Here's how it works: States can apply for grants by showing they have a car theft problem and explaining what they've already done to address it. States with higher rates of auto theft get priority for funding. Once a state receives a grant, it must pass at least half of that money down to local police departments in areas with the worst car theft problems, and at least 25 percent goes to state police agencies. Any leftover funds can go to either local or state law enforcement.

The money can be used for practical anti-theft tools and personnel, including buying equipment like license plate readers and police vehicles, hiring additional officers and support staff to focus on car theft, paying overtime for officers working on these cases, training officers in theft prevention techniques, and funding task forces that work across jurisdictions. Police departments can also use the funds for research and data collection to better understand and combat car theft, though they can't spend more than 5 percent of their grant on administrative costs.

Essentially, this bill gives police departments across the country new federal resources specifically dedicated to stopping car thieves and breaking up organized theft rings, with the money targeted toward areas experiencing the biggest problems.