Bill > HB304

This bill modifies Missouri state law to create more stringent regulations around catalytic converters to combat theft. The legislation introduces several key provisions: first, it requires dealers, scrap metal purchasers, and secondhand property collectors to maintain detailed records of catalytic converter transactions, including proof that the converter was legally acquired, the vehicle it originated from, and identification of the seller. The bill mandates that catalytic converter transactions can only occur at a fixed business location, with a mandatory five-day holding period before the converter can be altered or destroyed. The legislation also expands criminal penalties, making the unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter a class E felony and adding a new specific offense of unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter. Additionally, the bill broadens the definition of stealing to include receiving, retaining, or disposing of a catalytic converter known or suspected to be stolen. These changes aim to create a more comprehensive legal framework to deter catalytic converter theft, which has become a significant problem due to the valuable metals contained in these automotive components.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB304&year=2025&code=R