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SB1128 • 2026

study committee; scrap metal theft

SB1128 - study committee; scrap metal theft

Budget Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
David Gowan
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
House second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide detailed information about the exact composition of the public members representing telecommunications interests.

Study Committee on Scrap Metal Theft

This bill establishes a study committee to examine scrap metal theft laws in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Study Committee on Scrap Metal Theft with members from law enforcement, the scrap metal industry, and the public.
  • Requires the committee to assess whether current laws about scrap metal dealers prevent crime.
  • Asks the committee to review costs for scrap metal dealers to comply with state rules.
  • Tells the committee to check if fines and penalties are sufficient to regulate the scrap metal business.
  • Needs the committee to submit a report of findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement officers who deal with scrap metal theft cases in Arizona.
  • Scrap metal dealers registered under state laws.
  • The public affected by scrap metal theft.

Terms To Know

scrap metal dealer
A person or business that buys, trades, barbers, or receives secondhand materials like scrap metal for resale.
telecommunications industry
The sector dealing with communication services and technologies such as internet, phone networks, and broadcasting.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact impact on state finances.
  • The committee's work ends after December 1, 2026, when it submits its report.
  • It does not change current laws about scrap metal dealers until further action is taken based on the study committee’s recommendations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO S.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO S.B.
  • 1128 (Reference to Senate engrossed bill) Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert: 1 "Section 1.
  • Subject to the requirements of article IV, part 1, 2 section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2803.01, Arizona Revised 3 Statutes, is amended to read: 4 36-2803.01.
  • New dispensary registration certificates; 5 issuance; priority; requirements; fee; 6 definition 7 A.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session S.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session S.B.
  • 1128 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO S.B.
  • 1128 (Reference to Senate engrossed bill) Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert: 1 "Section 1.
  • Subject to the requirements of article IV, part 1, 2 section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2803.01, Arizona Revised 3 Statutes, is amended to read: 4 36-2803.01.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Amendment explanation prepared by Hayden Darst 2/11/2026 Bill Number: S.B.

  • Amendment explanation prepared by Hayden Darst 2/11/2026 Bill Number: S.B.
  • 1128 Gowan Floor Amendment Reference to: printed bill Amendment drafted by: Leg.
  • Council FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION • Adds, to the membership of the Study Committee on Scrap Metal Theft, one person who has experience or expertise that is relevant to scrap metal theft, public safety or regulated industries and is appointed by the Governor.
  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Gowan Second Regular Session S.B.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    House second read

  2. 2026-03-03 House

    House Rules: None

  3. 2026-03-03 House

    House Appropriations: DPA/SE

  4. 2026-03-03 House

    House Commerce: W/D

  5. 2026-03-03 House

    House first read

  6. 2026-02-24 House

    Transmitted to House

  7. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  8. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  9. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  10. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  11. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  12. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Senate second read

  13. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  14. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency: DP

  15. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1128 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1128

study committee; scrap metal theft

Purpose

Establishes the Study Committee on Scrap Metal Theft (Study Committee).

Background

Statute regulates scrap metal dealers and prohibits cities, towns and
counties from enacting or enforcing ordinances, rules or regulations that
conflict with statute. A
dealer
is a person or business entity, except
licensed automotive recyclers, that is engaged in the business of purchasing,
trading, bartering or otherwise receiving secondhand or castoff material,
commonly known as scrap metal. Scrap metal dealers must register with the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) and update registration information every two
years
(
A.R.S. � 44-1641
)
.

Scrap metal dealers must maintain scrap metal transaction records
(transaction records) for one year and submit the records to DPS within 24
hours after receiving the scrap metals. Each transaction record must include:
1) the seller's name, physical description, address, date of birth, signature,
photo identification, transaction privilege tax number and right index
fingerprint;

2) a photograph and an identifying description and weight of the specific scrap
metal received;

3) a photograph or video or digital record of the seller; 4) the number and
state of issuance of the license on the vehicle used for delivery; and 5) the
date, time, place and amount of the transaction. DPS provides law enforcement
agencies with access to a database of all records for investigative and
compliance purposes. Failure to comply with the recordkeeping requirements is a
class 1 misdemeanor
(
A.R.S. Title 44, Chapter
11, Article 3.1
)
.

There is no anticipated fiscal impact
to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Establishes
the Study Committee, consisting of the following members:

a)

two
persons who are currently certified as peace officers and who have experience
with scrap metal thefts in Arizona, separately appointed by the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

b)

two
persons who are currently registered as scrap metal dealers, separately
appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;

c)

one
member of the public who has been impacted by scrap metal theft and one member
of the public who represents the
telecommunication
industry,
separately appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;

d)

one
person from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office who can provide information
on scrap metal theft prosecutions, appointed by the Maricopa County Attorney;
and

e)

one
person who has experience or expertise that is relevant to scrap metal theft,
public safety or regulated industries, appointed by the Governor.

2.

Requires
the Study Committee to:

a)

examine
whether current statute regulating to scrap metal dealers deters crime;

b)

evaluate
the scrap metal industry's costs spent for complying with current statute
regulating scrap metal dealers;

c)

review
current statute regulating scrap metal dealers, and other related statutes to
determine whether the existing civil penalties and criminal fines adequately
regulate the scrap metal industry; and

d)

submit
a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of
the State by December 1, 2026.

3.

Repeals the Study Committee on January 1, 2027.

4.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee of the Whole

�

Adds, to the membership of the Study Committee, one person who
has experience or expertise that is relevant to scrap metal theft, public
safety or regulated industries and is appointed by the Governor.

Senate Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

February 23, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1128 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

study committee;
scrap metal theft

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1128

AN
ACT

establishing a study committee on scrap
metal theft.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Study
committee on scrap metal theft; membership duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The study committee on
scrap metal theft is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two persons who are
currently certified as peace officers pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article
8, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who have experience in scrap metal theft in
this state. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house
of representatives shall each appoint one member.

2. Two persons who are
currently registered as scrap metal dealers pursuant to title 44, chapter 11,
article 3.1, Arizona Revised Statutes.� The president of the senate and the
speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member.

3. One member of the public
who has been impacted by scrap metal theft and one person who represents the
telecommunications industry. The president of the senate and the
speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member.

4. One person from the
Maricopa county attorney's office who can provide information on scrap metal
theft prosecutions and who is appointed by the Maricopa county attorney.

5. One person who has
experience or expertise that is relevant to scrap metal theft, public safety or
regulated industries and who is appointed by the governor.

B. The study committee
shall:

1. Examine whether title
44, chapter 11, article 3.1, Arizona Revised Statutes, deters crime.

2. Evaluate the scrap metal
industry's costs spent for complying with title 44, chapter 11, article 3.1,
Arizona Revised Statutes.

3. Review title 44, chapter
11, article 3.1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and other related statutes to
determine whether the existing civil penalties and criminal fines adequately
regulate the scrap metal industry.

4. On or before December 1,
2026, submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the
president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and
provide a copy of this report to the secretary of the state.

C. This section is repealed
from and after December 31, 2026.