S. 3798: Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026
Sponsor
Ted Cruz
Republican · TX
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 5, 2026
Placed on Senate floor schedule under General Orders. Calendar No. 350.
Up to 20 years for robbing any ATM
Why it matters
Robbing someone at an ATM, or breaking one open for the cash inside, would carry up to 20 years in federal prison. The law would reach machines in gas stations, corner stores, and transit hubs, not just bank lobbies, and it climbs to 25 years if a weapon is used. It cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee with sponsors from both parties and now sits on the Senate calendar.
S. 3798, the Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026, creates a new federal crime aimed squarely at ATM robbery and theft. The core idea is to make federal law apply whether the machine is bolted to a bank wall or sitting in a convenience store, since most people now get cash from terminals far from any branch.
The penalties scale with what happens. Robbing, attempting to rob, or extorting someone who is using or servicing an ATM carries up to 20 years. Breaking into or stealing from a machine carries up to 10 years if more than $1,000 is taken, and up to 1 year if the amount is $1,000 or less.
The bill also covers the people around the cash. Owners, operators, and contractors transporting money to load into a machine fall under the same robbery protection. Anyone who knowingly buys, hides, or resells money stolen from an ATM faces the same penalty as the person who took it.
Violence raises the stakes. Assaulting someone or endangering a life with a dangerous weapon during an ATM crime can bring up to 25 years. Killing a person during the offense carries a minimum of 10 years, and life imprisonment if a death results.
The Senate Judiciary Committee reported a rewritten version that tightens the language, requiring the crime to happen in connection with use or service of the machine. Supporters say it gives prosecutors a clear tool for violent ATM crime and organized theft crews. Skeptics may ask whether existing robbery, theft, and vandalism laws already cover most of this conduct.
S. 3798 Bill Summary
What S. 3798 actually does.
Robbing an ATM user becomes a 20-year federal crime
Robbing, attempting to rob, or extorting someone using or servicing an ATM carries up to 20 years in federal prison, including people loading cash into the machine.
The law reaches off-site machines
The offense applies whether or not the ATM sits on bank property, covering terminals in stores, malls, gas stations, and other everyday locations connected to financial networks.
Breaking into a machine is penalized by the amount taken
Breaking into, damaging, or stealing from an ATM carries up to 10 years if more than $1,000 is removed, and up to 1 year if the amount is $1,000 or less.
Handling stolen ATM cash carries the same penalty
Knowingly receiving, hiding, selling, or disposing of money or property taken from an ATM is punished at the same level that applies to the original theft.
Weapons and violence increase the maximum to 25 years
Assaulting a person or endangering a life with a dangerous weapon during an ATM crime can bring up to 25 years; killing a person carries a minimum of 10 years, and life if a death results.
Adjusts the existing bank robbery statute
The bill also tweaks federal bank robbery law, changing 'force and violence' to 'force or violence' and adding conspiracy language.
Who benefits from S. 3798?
People using ATMs outside bank branches
Anyone withdrawing cash at a store, gas station, or transit terminal would gain explicit federal protection against robbery and extortion at that machine.
ATM technicians and servicers
Workers who repair, refill, or maintain machines are covered when they are targeted on the job.
Armored carrier and cash-delivery workers
People transporting and loading money into ATMs fall under the same robbery protection when criminals target them during delivery.
Banks, credit unions, and ATM operators
Financial institutions and network operators gain a federal statute aimed at deterring theft and supporting prosecutions of organized crews.
Who is affected by S. 3798?
People accused of ATM-related theft or robbery
They could face new federal charges, with maximum prison terms ranging from 1 year to life depending on the conduct and amount involved.
State and local law enforcement
Police and prosecutors may coordinate more often with federal authorities on ATM cases, especially those involving violence or organized theft.
Federal prosecutors and courts
They would have a specific ATM statute to charge, which could increase the volume of federal cases in this area.
Retail businesses hosting ATMs
Stores and other sites with machines on the premises may see more federal involvement in crimes occurring at or around them.
S3798 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 5, 2026
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee Action
Feb 5, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Ted Cruz
Republican, TX · 13 years in Congress
Committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Rules and Administration, the Judiciary
View full profile →
Cosponsors (2)
This bill has 2 cosponsors: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 2 states: Arizona, Tennessee.
Committee Sponsors
11 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S. 3798 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Introduced
- Feb 5, 2026
Placed on Senate floor schedule under General Orders. Calendar No. 350.
Mar 5, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026, with full text, actions, and sponsor data.
The existing federal bank robbery statute that the bill amends and models the new ATM offense on.
The chapter of the federal criminal code where the bill inserts the new section 2113A on ATM crimes.
The bill borrows its definition of an ATM access device from this access-device fraud statute.
The bill adopts this statute's definition of extortion for the ATM extortion offense.
The committee that marked up and reported S. 3798 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 3798 Common Questions
Does federal law cover ATM robberies at gas stations or stores?
That's the whole point of S. 3798. It applies whether or not the ATM sits on bank property, covering machines in stores, gas stations, and other everyday spots connected to financial networks.
What's the penalty for robbing someone at an ATM?
Under S. 3798, robbing, attempting to rob, or extorting a person while they use or service an ATM can bring up to 20 years in federal prison.
How much prison time for breaking into an ATM and stealing the cash?
It depends on the amount. Under S. 3798, taking more than $1,000 from a machine carries up to 10 years; $1,000 or less carries up to 1 year.
What happens if someone uses a weapon during an ATM robbery?
Under S. 3798, assaulting a person or putting a life in danger with a dangerous weapon during an ATM crime can bring up to 25 years in prison.
Is buying or selling money stolen from an ATM a federal crime?
Yes. Under S. 3798, knowingly receiving, hiding, selling, or disposing of money or property stolen from an ATM carries the same penalty as the original theft.
Are armored car workers and ATM cash loaders protected by the bill?
Yes. S. 3798 extends its robbery offense to owners, operators, and contractors transporting money to be loaded into an ATM.
What is the penalty if someone is killed during an ATM crime?
Under S. 3798, killing a person during an ATM offense carries a minimum of 10 years, and life imprisonment if a death results.
Which machines count as an ATM under the Safe Access to Cash Act?
Under S. 3798, an ATM is a network-connected terminal tied to financial networks that lets people withdraw, deposit, or check a balance with a card or access device.
Based on S. 3798 bill text
S. 3798 Bill Text
“To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish criminal offenses with respect to violations involving ATMs, regardless of whether the ATM is located on the physical premises of a financial institution, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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