H.B. No. 3552 aims to strengthen 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 amends the Occupations Code to regulate metal recycling entities, requiring them to undergo training to identify potentially stolen copper or brass materials and maintain accurate transaction records. It establishes conditions for the purchase of these materials, including that sellers must have acquired them in the ordinary course of business. The Department of Public Safety is tasked with conducting a study every three years on the impact of these regulations on theft incidents, with findings to be publicly available. Local governments are restricted from imposing additional regulations beyond those established in the bill, which will take effect on September 1, 2025, unless a two-thirds majority 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 545, Penal Code 28)