H.B. No. 3552 aims to combat criminal activities related to the theft, damage, destruction, or unlawful possession of copper or brass, particularly concerning critical infrastructure facilities. The bill expands the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include telecommunications centers and natural gas facilities, introduces new criminal offenses, and increases penalties for crimes involving copper or brass materials linked to these facilities. Specifically, it classifies the damaging or destroying of copper or brass components of critical infrastructure as a third-degree felony if it impairs the facility's operation.

Additionally, the bill amends the Occupations Code to regulate metal recycling entities, requiring them to acquire copper and brass materials only from legitimate sources and maintain accurate transaction records. It prohibits local governments from enacting stricter regulations than those established in the bill. The Department of Public Safety is tasked with conducting a study every three years to assess the impact of these regulations on theft incidents, with findings to be publicly available. The bill also imposes administrative penalties for non-compliance by metal recycling entities, with a maximum penalty of $10,000. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, unless a two-thirds vote is obtained for immediate implementation.

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