# Texas SB 1646: Relating to criminal conduct involving the theft, damage, or destruction of copper or brass or involving the unauthorized possession of certain copper or brass material, to transactions of metal recycling entities involving certain copper or brass material, to training on identifying certain copper or brass material, and to studying the effect of certain regulations on incidents of theft of copper or brass material; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; providing an administrative penalty. Texas SB 1646, Relating to criminal conduct involving the theft, damage, or destruction of copper or brass or involving the unauthorized possession of certain copper or brass material, to transactions of metal recycling entities involving certain copper or brass material, to training on identifying certain copper or brass material, and to studying the effect of certain regulations on incidents of theft of copper or brass material; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; providing an administrative penalty., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Charlie Geren, Cole Hefner, Phil King (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-05-30 (Effective immediately) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1646-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 1646 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to criminal conduct involving the theft, damage, or destruction of copper or brass or involving the unauthorized possession of certain copper or brass material, to transactions of metal recycling entities involving certain copper or brass material, to training on identifying certain copper or brass material, and to studying the effect of certain regulations on incidents of theft of copper or brass material; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; providing an administrative penalty. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-26 - Last action: 2025-05-30, Effective immediately - Sponsors: Charlie Geren, Cole Hefner, Phil King (Republican), Ray Lopez, Jared Patterson, Toni Rose - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Crimes--Against Property, Criminal Procedure--General, Utilities--General, Utilities--Telecommunications, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, SECONDHAND METAL, STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 7 (350 yes, 5 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fewer Local Restrictions on Metal Businesses: benefit, low. Local governments generally cannot restrict covered businesses’ copper or brass purchases, sales, transfers, or possession, or change state recordkeeping rules. Local licensing and inspections remain allowed. Cities may keep qualifying ordinances in effect on March 1, 2025, requiring records in sea… - Metal Identification Training for Recycling Businesses: benefit, low. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must develop and provide training materials to metal recycling businesses. The materials help identify covered copper or brass, including possibly stolen items. Development must involve advisory, industry, communications, law-enforcement, prosecutori… - Felony Penalties for Unauthorized Metal Possession: cost, medium. Intentionally or knowingly possessing covered copper or brass without authorization is a state jail felony. Covered items include power inverters, bus bars, and specified copper wire or cable used by listed utilities and communications providers. Authorized possessors include owners, listed busines… - Higher Penalties for Infrastructure Metal Crimes: cost, medium. Intentionally or knowingly damaging copper or brass infrastructure is a third-degree felony when it impairs or interrupts service. Covered property includes facility parts and connected equipment or communication wires the facility relies on. Copper or brass thefts punishable under Penal Code Secti… - New Metal Purchase Records for Recyclers: cost, low. Special purchase rules cover recyclers buying qualifying metal from listed businesses, utilities, providers, carriers, recyclers, and construction or salvage operations. They exclude construction-type copper or brass items, copper pipe or tubing, and common household copper wire or cable. Sellers m… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Charlie Geren, House - Sponsor: Cole Hefner, House - Sponsor: Phil King (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Ray Lopez, House - Sponsor: Jared Patterson, House - Sponsor: Toni Rose, House - Cosponsor: Pete Flores (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-20 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 29 | 2 | | | 2025-05-15 | House | Record vote | pass | 138 | 1 | | | 2025-05-14 | House | Record vote | pass | 137 | 0 | | | 2025-04-16 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 29 | 2 | | | 2025-04-16 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | | House | Committee vote: Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs | pass | 11 | 0 | | | | Senate | Committee vote: Criminal Justice | pass | 6 | 0 | | ## Actions (59) - 2025-05-30: Effective immediately (House) - 2025-05-30: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-05-21: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-05-21: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-05-21: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-21: Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported (House) - 2025-05-20: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Senate concurs in House amendment(s) (Senate) - 2025-05-20: Read (Senate) - 2025-05-20: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-15: House passage as amended reported (Senate) - 2025-05-15: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-15: Record vote (RV#2606) (House) - 2025-05-15: Passed (House) - 2025-05-15: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-14: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-14: Record vote (RV#2576) (House) - 2025-05-14: Passed to 3rd reading as amended (House) - 2025-05-14: Amended (1-Hefner) (House) - 2025-05-14: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-14: Laid out in lieu of companion (HB 3552) (House) - 2025-05-14: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-05-14: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-05-14: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-05-09: Reported favorably as substituted (House) - 2025-05-09: Committee substitute considered in committee (House) - 2025-05-09: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-04-22: Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs (House) - 2025-04-22: Read first time (House) - 2025-04-17: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-04-16: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Passed (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Three day rule suspended (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Amended (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 King) (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-16: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Placed on intent calendar (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Recommended for local & uncontested calendar (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-03-11: Referred to Criminal Justice (Senate) - 2025-03-11: Read first time (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Filed (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB01646S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB01646S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1646-89R (as of 2026-10-19).