# Illinois HB4943: TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT

Illinois HB4943, TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-07-31 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0689) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4943-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4943
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-04
- Last action: 2026-07-31, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0689
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 32
- Subjects: public utilities, assignments, criminal law
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (198 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for any person to possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell, or attempt to sell, or for any recyclable metal dealer to purchase or attempt to purchase, telecommunications wire in any amount unless the seller is an authorized agent, a representative or employee of a licensed contractor of a public utility, a provider of telecommunications services, as described in the Public Utilities Act, or a provider of broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as described in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Recyclable Metal Theft Task Force shall review the effectiveness of its efforts in deterring and investigating the problem of recyclable metal theft specific to telecommunications wires, burned wire, and any other equipment used to provide (i) telecommunications services, as described in the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as described in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Task Force shall consider and develop long-term solutions, both legislative and enforcement-driven, for the rising problem of theft of these wires and equipment in this State. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of one representative of a wireless telecommunications carrier. Provides that the Task Force shall, by October 31 of each year, report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor. Changes the definition of the term "recyclable metal". Defines the terms "burned wire" and "telecommunications wire".

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Amy Elik (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brad Stephens (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brandun Schweizer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Charles Meier (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher Belt (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Craig Wilcox (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dale Fowler (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel J. Ugaste (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dave Syverson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dave Vella (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Donald P. DeWitte (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jackie Haas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jason Plummer (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jason R. Bunting (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jawaharial Williams (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jay Hoffman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeff Keicher (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Sanalitro (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John M. Cabello (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Joyce Mason (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kevin Schmidt (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Kyle Moore (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mary Gill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Matt Hanson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael J. Coffey, Jr. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Napoleon Harris III (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nicole La Ha (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Norine K. Hammond (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Patrick Sheehan (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Patrick Windhorst (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-21 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 58 | 0 |   |
| 2026-05-13 | Senate | Do Pass Criminal Law; | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-07 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee; | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-24 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee; | pass | 17 | 0 |   |

## Actions (66)

- 2026-07-31: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0689 (House)
- 2026-07-31: Effective Date January 1, 2027 (House)
- 2026-07-31: Governor Approved (House)
- 2026-06-18: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2026-05-21: Passed Both Houses (House)
- 2026-05-21: Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000 (Senate)
- 2026-05-21: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason Plummer (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading ** (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-19: Second Reading (Senate)
- 2026-05-14: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt (Senate)
- 2026-05-13: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III (Senate)
- 2026-05-13: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-13: Do Pass Criminal Law; 010-000-000 (Senate)
- 2026-05-08: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-05: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Craig Wilcox (Senate)
- 2026-04-30: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson (Senate)
- 2026-04-29: Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale Fowler (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Assigned to Criminal Law (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer (House)
- 2026-04-13: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Elik (House)
- 2026-04-10: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Arrive in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jackie Haas (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer (House)
- 2026-04-09: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 098-000-000 (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Windhorst (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jeff Keicher (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Brad Stephens (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John M. Cabello (House)
- 2026-04-09: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Coffey, Jr. (House)
- 2026-04-08: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel J. Ugaste (House)
- 2026-04-08: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kyle Moore (House)
- 2026-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee; 015-000-000 (House)
- 2026-03-26: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman (House)
- 2026-03-25: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-03-24: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams (House)
- 2026-03-24: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled (House)
- 2026-03-24: Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee; 017-000-000 (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee (House)
- 2026-03-18: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-03-18: House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman (House)
- 2026-03-18: Assigned to Public Utilities Committee (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading (House)
- 2026-02-04: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943enr.pdf)
- House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943ham001.pdf)
- House Amendment 2: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943ham002.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943enr.pdf)
- [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943ham001.pdf)
- [House Amendment 2 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943ham002.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4943.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4943-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).