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HB1611 • 2026

Changes the law regarding catalytic converters

Changes the law regarding catalytic converters

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Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Billington, Hardy (152)
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
04/02/2026 - HCS Reported Do Pass (H)
Effective date
2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how dealers should handle transactions with established businesses.

Changes to Laws About Catalytic Converters

This law changes how junk dealers must keep records when buying certain metals, including catalytic converters, and sets penalties for buying stolen ones.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires dealers to record details like the seller's ID, address, photo, transaction date, vehicle license plate number, material description, and weight when buying specified metals or detached catalytic converters.
  • Makes it illegal for dealers to buy detached catalytic converters outside their main business location within five days of purchase.
  • Sets fines and license revocation penalties for dealers who knowingly buy stolen detached catalytic converters.
  • Exempts some transactions from the new rules if they involve established businesses or minor parts of larger items.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Junk dealers, scrap metal buyers
  • People selling specified metals and detached catalytic converters

Terms To Know

Catalytic Converter
A part of a car's exhaust system that reduces harmful emissions.
Scrap Metal Dealer
Someone who buys and sells used or discarded metal items.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how dealers should handle transactions with established businesses.
  • It is unclear what happens if a dealer fails to keep proper records for three years as required by the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 1

  2. 2026-03-30 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Executive Session Completed (H)

  3. 2026-03-30 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

  4. 2026-03-23 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Public Hearing Completed (H)

  5. 2026-01-08 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read Second Time (H)

  6. 2026-01-08 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

  7. 2026-01-07 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Read First Time (H)

  8. 2025-12-01 Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate

    Prefiled (H)

Official Summary Text

Changes the law regarding catalytic converters

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 161 1
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
5100H.02C JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o repeal section 407.300, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to
catalytic converters, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 407.300, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 407.300, to read as follows:
407.300. 1. Every purchaser or collector of, or dealer in, junk, scrap metal, or any
2 secondhand property who obtains items for resale or profit shall keep a register containing a
3 written or electronic record for each purchase or trade in which each type of material subject
4 to the provisions of this section is obtained for value. There shall be a separate record for
5 each transaction involving any:
6 (1) Copper , brass, or bronze;
7 (2) Aluminum wire, cable, pipe, tubing, bar , ingot, rod, fitting, or fastener;
8 (3) Material containing copper or aluminum that is knowingly used for farming
9 purposes as farming is defined in section 350.010; whatever may be the condition or length of
10 such metal;
11 (4) Detached catalytic converter; or
12 (5) Motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or tractor battery .
13 2. The record required by this section shall contain the following data:
14 (1) A copy of the driver's license or photo identification issued by the state or by the
15 United States government or agency thereof of the person from whom the material is
16 obtained;
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
17 (2) The current address, gender , birth date, and a color photograph of the person from
18 whom the material is obtained if not included or are dif ferent from the identification required
19 in subdivision (1) of this subsection;
20 (3) The date, time, and place of the transaction;
21 (4) The license plate number of the vehicle used by the seller during the transaction;
22 [ and ]
23 (5) A full description of the material, including the weight and purchase price ; and
24 (6) If the transaction involves a detached catalytic converter , the vehicle
25 identification number of the vehicle fr om which the catalytic converter was r emoved .
26 3. The records required under this section shall be maintained for a minimum of
27 thirty-six months from when such material is obtained and shall be available for inspection by
28 any law enforcement of ficer .
29 4. No transaction that includes a detached catalytic converter shall occur at any
30 location other than the fixed place of business of the purchaser or collector of, or dealer in,
31 junk, scrap metal, or any secondhand property . No detached catalytic converter shall be
32 altered, modified, disassembled, or destroyed until it has been in the purchaser's, collector's,
33 or dealer's possession for five business days.
34 5. Anyone licensed under section 301.218 who knowingly purchases a stolen
35 detached catalytic converter shall be subject to the following penalties:
36 (1) For a first violation, a fine in the amount of five thousand dollars;
37 (2) For a second violation, a fine in the amount of ten thousand dollars; and
38 (3) For a third violation, revocation of the license for a business described under
39 section 301.218.
40 6. This section shall not apply to either of the following transactions:
41 (1) Any transaction for which the seller has an existing business relationship with the
42 scrap metal dealer and is known to the scrap metal dealer making the purchase to be an
43 established business or political subdivision that operates a business with a fixed location that
44 can be reasonably expected to generate regulated scrap metal and can be reasonably identified
45 as such a business, and for which the seller is paid by check or by electronic funds transfer , or
46 the seller produces an acceptable identification, which shall be a copy of the driver's license
47 or photo identification issued by the state or by the United States government or agency
48 thereof, and a copy is retained by the purchaser; or
49 (2) Any transaction for which the type of metal subject to subsection 1 of this section
50 is a minor part of a lar ger item, except for heating and cooling equipment or equipment used
51 in the generation and transmission of electrical power or telecommunications.
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HCS HB 161 1 2