To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program for the prevention and mitigation of acts of terrorism using motor vehicles, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1831
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T13:27:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, H.R. 1831, aims to enhance national security by directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a one-year pilot program focused on preventing and reducing the risk of terrorist attacks that involve motor vehicles, such as trucks or large vans used as weapons. It emphasizes collaboration with the automotive rental and sales industry to improve detection of suspicious activities.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Pilot Program: Within one year of the bill's enactment, DHS must launch a one-year pilot to:
- Work with the automotive sales and rental industry to create a standard for the information rental agencies collect and use when filing suspicious activity reports (SARs), which are notifications to authorities about potential threats.
- Share a threat assessment (prepared by DHS's Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis) with vehicle operators about terrorism risks involving large vehicles.
- Provide guidance and training to rental company employees on spotting and reporting suspicious activities.
- Offer technical help to rental operators for submitting and accessing SARs more effectively.
- If needed, set up a process to check customer information against a non-classified watch list and require dealers or rental companies to notify the FBI about certain sales or rentals.
- Reporting Requirements:
- DHS and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must submit joint reports to Congress every 120 days during the pilot, covering its effects on privacy and civil liberties, and how a permanent version could improve anti-terrorism efforts.
- Within 18 months of enactment, DHS must deliver a study on partnering with rental car companies and ride-sharing services (like peer-to-peer apps) to spot terrorism risks.
- Liability Protection: Dealers and rental companies are exempt from legal responsibility for actions taken as part of the pilot program.
- Definitions:
- "Covered rental vehicle" includes trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, semitrailers, or vans that can carry more than 15 passengers.
- "Dealer" and "rental company" are defined under existing federal transportation law (49 U.S.C. § 30102), referring to businesses involved in selling or leasing vehicles.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandates not previously in federal law, including the creation of a pilot program for standardized suspicious activity reporting in the vehicle rental sector, mandatory threat assessments and training for industry operators, and potential FBI notifications for vehicle transactions. It also adds reporting and study requirements on privacy impacts and ride-sharing collaborations, while providing a novel liability shield for participating businesses. No direct amendments to existing statutes are specified, but it builds on current transportation and security frameworks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DHS and TSA will face increased administrative duties, such as developing standards, providing training, and producing regular reports and a study, potentially straining resources but improving coordination on vehicle-related threats.
- Citizens: Enhanced screening and reporting could make vehicle rentals safer by reducing terrorism risks, but it may lead to more scrutiny of renters, affecting privacy (e.g., background checks against watch lists). The required privacy assessments aim to balance these concerns.
- International Relations: No direct impacts are outlined, though improved domestic threat detection could indirectly support U.S. counterterrorism efforts abroad by preventing attacks inspired by global events.
- Broader Effects: If successful, the pilot could lead to permanent programs expanding to ride-sharing, potentially standardizing security across the transportation sector and deterring vehicle-based attacks.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Government Entities: DHS (leading the program), TSA (co-reporting), FBI (potential notifications), and Congress (receiving reports and study).
- Private Sector: Automotive dealers, rental companies (e.g., those handling large vehicles like trucks or buses), and ride-sharing platforms (covered in the study), who must adapt to new standards, training, and reporting.
- Citizens and Public: Vehicle renters, drivers, and the general public, who may experience heightened security measures at rental points; civil liberties groups, due to privacy implications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The liability exemption protects businesses from lawsuits related to good-faith participation, encouraging industry involvement, but it could raise questions about accountability if errors occur. The use of a non-classified watch list avoids handling sensitive data, reducing legal risks under privacy laws like the Privacy Act.
- Constitutional: Emphasizes protection of privacy and civil liberties through mandatory assessments in reports, aligning with Fourth Amendment concerns over searches and seizures; however, expanded reporting could invite scrutiny if perceived as overly intrusive.
- Political: As a bipartisan security measure (introduced in a Democratic-led Congress), it signals priority on evolving threats like vehicle-ramming attacks, potentially paving the way for broader transportation security reforms. The pilot's temporary nature allows for evaluation before full implementation, mitigating political risks of overreach.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2025-03-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out a pilot program for the prevention and mitigation of acts of terrorism using motor vehicles, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-03-04 — PDF (4 pages)