Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986
Public Law 99-474 · H.R. 4718 · 99th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 16, 1986 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Rep. William Hughes (D-NJ-2)
Cosponsors (10): Rep. Bill McCollum, Rep. Bill Nelson,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to change the scienter requirement from "knowingly" to "intentionally" for certain offenses regarding accessing the computer files of another.
Revises the definition of "financial institution" to which the financial record provisions of computer fraud law apply. Applies such provisions to any financial records (including those of corporations and small businesses), not just those of individuals and certain partnerships.
Modifies existing Federal law regarding accessing Federal computers. Makes the basic offense trespass. Removes criminal liability for exceeding (without the intent to defraud) authorized access to a Federal computer in one's own department or agency.
Creates new Federal criminal offenses of: (1) property theft by computer occurring as part of a scheme to defraud; (2) altering, damaging, or destroying information in, or preventing the authorized use of, a Federal interest computer; and (3) trafficking in computer access passwords.
Eliminates the special conspiracy provisions for computer crimes. (Such conspiracies shall be treated under the general Federal conspiracy statutes.)
Amends penalty provisions to remove the cap on fines for certain computer crimes.
Exempts authorized law enforcement or intelligence activities.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Oct 16, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-474.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 8, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 6, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Oct 3, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jun 4, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jun 3, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- May 22, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- May 6, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
- Apr 30, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.