H.B. No. 3552 aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding the theft, damage, destruction, or unlawful possession of copper and brass, particularly in relation to critical infrastructure facilities. The bill expands the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include telecommunications centers and natural gas terminals, and introduces new criminal offenses with increased penalties for crimes involving copper or brass materials linked to these facilities. Specifically, damaging or destroying copper or brass components of critical infrastructure is classified as a third-degree felony if it impairs the facility's operation.

Additionally, the bill imposes new regulations on metal recycling entities, requiring them to undergo training to identify potentially stolen copper or brass materials and to maintain accurate transaction records. It establishes conditions for the lawful purchase of these materials, including that sellers must have acquired them in the ordinary course of business. Unauthorized possession of such materials can lead to penalties, escalating to a third-degree felony if the materials were unlawfully obtained from critical infrastructure. The Department of Public Safety is tasked with conducting a study every three years on the impact of these regulations on theft incidents, and local governments are restricted from imposing additional regulations beyond those in the bill. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, unless a two-thirds vote is achieved for immediate implementation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 28.03, Penal Code 31.01, Penal Code 31.03, Penal Code 545.420 (Penal Code 545, Penal Code 31, Penal Code 28)
House Committee Report: Penal Code 28.03, Penal Code 31.01, Penal Code 31.03, Penal Code 545.420, Occupations Code 1956.001, Subchapter A- , Chapter , Occupations Code 66.002 (Subchapter A- , Chapter , Occupations Code 66, Occupations Code 1956, Penal Code 31, Penal Code 28, Penal Code 545)