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HB4943 • 2026
TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4943 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience.
Sent to the Governor
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason Plummer
Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000
Passed Both Houses
Second Reading
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2026
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading **
Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt
Do Pass Criminal Law ; 010-000-000
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris, III
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Craig Wilcox
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale Fowler
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson
Assigned to Criminal Law
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Elik
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John M. Cabello
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Brad Stephens
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jeff Keicher
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Windhorst
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 098-000-000
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jackie Haas
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Gill
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kyle Moore
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Matt Hanson
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
Second Reading - Short Debate
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Coffey, Jr.
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Public Utilities Committee ; 015-000-000
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
Do Pass / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee ; 017-000-000
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Public Utilities Committee
Assigned to Public Utilities Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jay Hoffman
TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4943 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB4943 Home Legislation Full Text HB4943 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 House Amendment 002 Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 House Amendment 002 Open PDF HB4943 Enrolled LRB104 19459 RLC 32907 b 1 AN ACT concerning business. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law 5 is amended by changing Sections 2, 4.1, and 4.3 as follows: 6 (815 ILCS 325/2) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 322) 7 Sec. 2. Definitions. When used in this Act: 8 "Burned wire" means any coated metal wire that has been 9 smelted, burned, or melted, thereby removing the protective 10 coating or the manufacturer's or owner's identifying marks. 11 "Catalytic converter" means a post-combustion device that 12 oxidizes hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide gases or reduces 13 oxides of nitrogen and that is designed or intended for use as 14 part of an emission control system. As used in this Section, 15 "catalytic converter" includes nonferrous parts, including 16 rhodium, platinum, and palladium. 17 "Detached catalytic converter" means a catalytic converter 18 that was previously installed on a motor vehicle and 19 subsequently removed. 20 "Recyclable metal" means any copper, brass, or aluminum, 21 or any combination of those metals, or any catalytic converter 22 or its contents purchased by a recyclable metal dealer, 23 irrespective of form or quantity, except that "recyclable HB4943 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 19459 RLC 32907 b 1 metal" does not include: (i) items designed to contain, or to 2 be used in the preparation of, beverages or food for human 3 consumption; (ii) discarded items of non-commercial or 4 household waste; (iii) gold, silver, platinum, and other 5 precious metals used in jewelry; or (iv) vehicles, junk 6 vehicles, vehicle cowls, or essential vehicle parts. 7 "Recyclable metal" includes copper, brass, aluminum, or any 8 combination of those metals found in telecommunications wire 9 or in any other equipment used to provide (i) 10 telecommunications services, as described in Section 13-203 of 11 the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) broadband service, 12 interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as 13 described in Section 13-804 of the Public Utilities Act. 14 "Recyclable metal dealer" means any individual, firm, 15 corporation or partnership conducting activity within the 16 boundaries of the State of Illinois and engaged in the 17 business of purchasing and reselling recyclable metal either 18 at a permanently established place of business or in 19 connection with a business of an itinerant nature, including 20 junk shops, junk yards, or junk stores, except that 21 "recyclable metal dealer" does not include automotive parts 22 recyclers, scrap processors, repairers and rebuilders licensed 23 pursuant to Section 5-301 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. 24 Recyclable metal dealers shall not be engaged in the business 25 of purchasing or reselling vehicles, junk vehicles, vehicle 26 cowls, or essential vehicle parts. HB4943 Enrolled - 3 - LRB104 19459 RLC 32907 b 1 "Telecommunications wire" means (i) wire used in a 2 wireline communications network facility or (ii) wire used in 3 a wireless communications network facility, fiber, copper 4 cable sheathed, or twisted-pair wire without sheathing. 5 "Telecommunications wire" includes tower, antennae, bus bar, 6 copper ground support structures, burned wire, and all 7 associated aerial or ground-based cable lines or equipment 8 used as part of a wireline or wireless telecommunications or 9 broadband network. 10 (Source: P.A. 102-906, eff. 5-27-22; 103-677, eff. 1-1-25 .) 11 (815 ILCS 325/4.1) 12 Sec. 4.1. Restricted purchases. 13 (a) It is a violation of this Act for any person to 14 possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell or attempt to 15 sell, or for any recyclable metal dealer to purchase or 16 attempt to purchase, any of the following: 17 (1) materials that are clearly marked as property 18 belonging to a business or someone else other than the 19 seller; 20 (2) property associated with use by governments, 21 utilities, or railroads including, but not limited to, 22 guardrails, manhole covers, electric transmission and 23 distribution equipment, including transformers, grounding 24 straps, wires or poles, historical markers, street signs, 25 traffic signs, sewer grates, or any rail, switch HB4943 Enrolled - 4 - LRB104 19459 RLC 32907 b 1 component, spike, angle bar, tie plate, or bolt of the 2 type used in constructing railroad track; 3 (3) cemetery plaques or ornaments; or 4 (4) any catalytic converter or its contents not 5 attached to a motor vehicle at the time of the transaction 6 unless the seller is licensed as an automotive parts 7 recycler or scrap processor ; or . 8 (5) telecommunications wire in any amount unless the 9 seller is an authorized agent, a representative, an 10 employee, or a licensed contractor of a public utility, a 11 provider of telecommunications services as described in 12 Section 13-203 of the Public Utilities Act, or a provider 13 of broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or 14 wireless services as described in Section 13-804 of the 15 Public Utilities Act. 16 (b) (Blank). 17 (Source: P.A. 102-906, eff. 5-27-22; 103-677, eff. 1-1-25 .) 18 (815 ILCS 325/4.3) 19 Sec. 4.3. Purchases of copper and telecommunications wire . 20 A recyclable metal dealer shall not pay cash in payment for any 21 copper, including copper tubing or wiring, or 22 telecommunications wire having a value of $100 or more. 23 Payment for these materials must be made as follows: 24 (1) by check or money order; 25 (2) the payee on the check or money order shall be the HB4943 Enrolled - 5 - LRB104 19459 RLC 32907 b 1 same person as the seller who conducted the transaction; 2 (3) if the seller is a business, then the recyclable 3 metal dealer shall make the check or money order payable 4 to the company, and not to any individual employee or 5 agent of the company. 6 (Source: P.A. 97-923, eff. 1-1-13.) Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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