TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEFT

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3593

Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

815 ILCS 325/2

from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 322
815 ILCS 325/4.1
815 ILCS 325/6.5

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". Effective July 1,
2027.
LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 b

A BILL FOR

SB3593
LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 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 6.5 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

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 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.

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 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, buss 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 telecommunications or broadband network.

9
(Source: P.A. 102-906, eff. 5-27-22; 103-677, eff. 1-1-25
.)

10

(815 ILCS 325/4.1)
11

Sec. 4.1.
Restricted purchases.
12

(a) It is a violation of this Act for any person to
13
possess, purchase, attempt to purchase, sell or attempt to
14
sell, or for any recyclable metal dealer to purchase or
15
attempt to purchase, any of the following:
16

(1) materials that are clearly marked as property
17

belonging to a business or someone else other than the
18

seller;
19

(2) property associated with use by governments,
20

utilities, or railroads including, but not limited to,
21

guardrails, manhole covers, electric transmission and
22

distribution equipment, including transformers, grounding
23

straps, wires or poles, historical markers, street signs,
24

traffic signs, sewer grates, or any rail, switch
25

component, spike, angle bar, tie plate, or bolt of the

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 b
1

type used in constructing railroad track;
2

(3) cemetery plaques or ornaments;
or
3

(4) any catalytic converter or its contents not
4

attached to a motor vehicle at the time of the transaction
5

unless the seller is licensed as an automotive parts
6

recycler or scrap processor
; or

.

7

(5) telecommunications wire in any amount unless the
8

seller is an authorized agent, a representative or
9

employee of a licensed contractor of a public utility, a
10

provider of telecommunications services as described in
11

Section 13-203 of the Public Utilities Act, or a provider
12

of broadband service, interconnected VoIP services, or
13

wireless services as described in Section 13-804 of the
14

Public Utilities Act.

15

(b) (Blank).
16
(Source: P.A. 102-906, eff. 5-27-22; 103-677, eff. 1-1-25
.)

17

(815 ILCS 325/6.5)
18

Sec. 6.5.
Recyclable Metal Theft Task Force.
19

(a) The Recyclable Metal Theft Task Force is created
20
within the Office of the Secretary of State. The Office of the
21
Secretary of State shall provide administrative support for
22
the Task Force. The Task Force shall consist of the members
23
designated in subsections (b) and (c).
24

(b) Members of the Task Force representing the State shall
25
be appointed as follows:

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 b
1

(1) Two members of the Senate appointed one each by
2

the President of the Senate and by the Minority Leader of
3

the Senate;
4

(2) Two members of the House of Representatives
5

appointed one each by the Speaker of the House of
6

Representatives and by the Minority Leader of the House of
7

Representatives;
8

(3) One member representing the Office of the
9

Secretary of State appointed by the Secretary of State;
10

and
11

(4) Two members representing the Illinois State Police
12

appointed by the Director of the Illinois State Police,
13

one of whom must represent the State Police Academy.
14

(c) The members appointed under subsection (b) shall
15
select from their membership a chairperson. The chairperson
16
shall appoint the public members of the Task Force as follows:
17

(1) One member representing municipalities in this
18

State with consideration given to persons recommended by
19

an organization representing municipalities in this State;
20

(2) Five chiefs of police from various geographical
21

areas of the State with consideration given to persons
22

recommended by an organization representing chiefs of
23

police in this State;
24

(3) One representative of a public utility
25

headquartered in Illinois;
26

(4) One representative of recyclable metal dealers in

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 b
1

Illinois;
2

(5) One representative of scrap metal suppliers in
3

Illinois;
4

(6) One representative of insurance companies offering
5

homeowners insurance in this State;
6

(7) One representative of rural electric cooperatives
7

in Illinois;
8

(8) One representative of a local exchange carrier
9

doing business in Illinois;
10

(9) One representative of automotive recyclers in this
11

State;
and
12

(10) One representative of fleet operators in this
13

State
; and

.

14

(11) One representative of a wireless
15

telecommunications carrier.

16

(d) The Task Force shall endeavor to establish a
17
collaborative effort to combat recyclable metal theft
18
throughout the State and assist in developing regional task
19
forces, as determined necessary, to combat recyclable metal
20
theft. The Task Force shall consider and develop long-term
21
solutions, both legislative and enforcement-driven, for the
22
rising problem of recyclable metal thefts in this State.
23

(e) Each year, the Task Force shall review the
24
effectiveness of its efforts in deterring and investigating
25
the problem of recyclable metal theft and in assisting in the
26
prosecution of persons engaged in recyclable metal theft. The

SB3593
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LRB104 20411 RLC 33873 b
1
Task Force shall by October 31 of each year report its findings
2
and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor.
3

(f) The Task Force shall review the effectiveness of its
4
efforts in deterring and investigating the problem of
5
recyclable metal theft specific to telecommunications wires,
6
burned wire, and any other equipment used to provide (i)
7
telecommunications services, as described in Section 13-203 of
8
the Public Utilities Act, or (ii) broadband service,
9
interconnected VoIP services, or wireless services, as
10
described in Section 13-804 of the Public Utilities Act. The
11
Task Force shall consider and develop long-term solutions,
12
both legislative and enforcement-driven, for the rising
13
problem of theft of these wires and equipment in this State.
14
The Task Force shall, by October 31 of each year, report its
15
findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the
16
Governor.

17
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-906, eff. 5-27-22.)

18

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect July 1,
19
2027.

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