A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate voice vote
- Awaiting House
The Senate by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The bill is called the Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026. It establishes new criminal offenses for crimes involving ATMs, no matter where the ATM is located. This includes robbery, extortion, or taking property from people using, servicing, or loading an ATM. It also covers breaking into, damaging, or stealing an ATM, as well as handling property stolen from an ATM. Additionally, the bill sets penalties for assaulting people with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, or killing someone during these crimes.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill provides enhanced legal protections for individuals using ATMs against robbery and extortion.
- Scored +4
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill increases safety for people using widely distributed urban ATM networks.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill offers greater safety for individuals accessing cash via public ATMs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Engrossed in Senate (9/30/2026), compared with Reported to Senate. Each change is on the Text tab.
Only the wording changed; what the bill would do is the same.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection for ATM Users and Workers: Section 2(a) establishes criminal offenses and prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who uses force, violence, intimidation, or extortion against people using, servicing, or loading an ATM, or against owners and operators. This holds criminals accountable and protects everyday people and workers.
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Penalties for Property Damage and Theft: Section 2(b) creates penalties for breaking into, tampering with, damaging, removing, or stealing an ATM. Depending on whether the stolen money or property is more or less than $1,000, offenders face up to 10 years or up to 1 year in prison, which helps keep communities safe from property crimes.
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Severe Punishments for Violence During Crimes: Section 2(d) and Section 2(e) impose heavy penalties, including up to 25 years in prison for assaulting someone or putting a life in jeopardy with a dangerous weapon, up to 30 years for forcing someone to accompany the offender, and up to life imprisonment or death results if someone is killed during an ATM crime.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Harsh Penalties and Extended Imprisonment: The bill establishes strict criminal penalties and long prison sentences, such as up to 20 years under section 2(a), up to 25 years under section 2(d), and up to a life sentence under section 2(e), which heavily burdens individuals who break these laws.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill increases safety for people using widely distributed urban ATM networks. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill offers greater safety for individuals accessing cash via public ATMs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill enhances security for personal financial transactions conducted at ATMs.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill provides enhanced legal protections for individuals using ATMs against robbery and extortion.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill establishes new specific criminal statutes and penalties for crimes involving ATM property and users.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill codifies specific sentencing guidelines for various degrees of ATM-related offenses.
The version one chamber actually passed
What changed from Reported to Senate
Only the wording changed; what the bill would do is the same.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 10/5/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 9/30/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5207; text: CR S5207)
- 3/5/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 350.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona