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HOT CARS Act of 2019

Introduced: May 22, 2019 Introduced by: Wicker, Roger F. Republican · Mississippi See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 13, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 404.
Jan 13, 2020
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-204.
Jul 10, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
May 22, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 22, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats Act of 2019 or the HOT CARS Act of 2019

This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a final rule requiring all new passenger motor vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight to be equipped with a system to alert the operator to check rear designated seating positions after the vehicle engine is turned off.

The alert must (1) include a distinct auditory and visual alert which may be combined with a haptic alert (i.e., vibrations), and (2) be activated when the vehicle engine is turned off.

DOT must enter into an agreement with an independent third party for a study on retrofitting existing passenger motor vehicles with technology to address the problem of children left in rear seats after the vehicle engine is turned off.

What's happening now January 13, 2020

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 404.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1601: HOT CARS Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1601/
MLA
"S. 1601: HOT CARS Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1601/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1601, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1601/.
Markdown link
[S. 1601: HOT CARS Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1601/)
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