H.R. 1608 — Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025

This section sets forth congressional findings on a vehicular terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025, that killed 14 people and injured at least 35 others, including two police officers; the enduring threat of vehicle-ramming attacks targeting civilians, first responders, high-density gatherings, critical infrastructure, and transportation hubs; vulnerabilities from emerging automotive technologies such as autonomous vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and ride-sharing platforms; and the need for strengthened coordination among federal, state, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector stakeholders, including the Department of Homeland Security.

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on DHS efforts to prevent, deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism. The report must include (1) an assessment of current and emerging vehicular terrorism threats, including methods, trends, motivations, and risks from connected or autonomous vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)-equipped vehicles, ride-sharing services, and automotive cybersecurity; (2) a review of higher-risk locations such as critical infrastructure (e.g., airports, seaports, power plants), soft targets (e.g., mass gatherings, places of worship), and high-density urban areas; (3) a summary of DHS, TSA, and CISA actions, including coordination for physical barriers, geofencing, surveillance, and real-time response strategies; (4) an evaluation of engagement with private-sector stakeholders (e.g., vehicle rental companies, ride-sharing platforms, automotive manufacturers) and law enforcement for intelligence sharing, training, and countermeasures; (5) recommendations for technologies such as vehicle immobilization systems, predictive analytics using artificial intelligence and machine learning, and cybersecurity innovations; (6) a description of engagement with privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties stakeholders; and (7) a review of public awareness initiatives.