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Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996

Public Law 104-152 · H.R. 2803 · 104th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jul 2, 1996 · Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor: Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL-8)

Cosponsors (12): Rep. Chuck Schumer,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996 - Changes the National Automobile Title Information System to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS).

Makes the Attorney General (currently, the Secretary of Transportation) responsible for carrying out specified functions with respect to NMVTIS. Directs the Attorney General no later than: (1) December 31, 1997, to establish a NMVTIS that will provide specified individuals and entities with instant and reliable access to information maintained by the States relating to motor vehicle titling; and (2) October 1, 1998, to report to the Congress on which States have met requirements with respect to NMVTIS.

Grants immunity from any civil action seeking money damages or equitable relief in any Federal or State court for any person performing activities, in good faith and with the reasonable belief that such activities were in accordance with Federal provisions, relating to NMVTIS and the National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information System (NSPMVIS).

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to participating States to be used in making titling information available to the operator. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions regarding State participation in NMVTIS and NSPMVIS.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.

  1. Jul 2, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-152.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 25, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 20, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Jun 18, 1996FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. McCollum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. Jun 12, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  9. Apr 24, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Mar 21, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  12. Mar 7, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. Feb 9, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  14. Dec 18, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  15. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.