Bill > A08675

This bill, known as the "prevention of damage to critical infrastructure act of 2026," aims to protect essential services by making it unlawful for junk dealers and scrap processors to sell or purchase certain metal items that are crucial for critical infrastructure providers, which are defined as utility companies, electric plants, cable television companies, internet service providers, cellular telephone companies, and other entities providing public voice or data communications services. The act amends existing laws to expand the definition of criminal tampering to include damage to property of these critical infrastructure providers and imposes stricter record-keeping requirements on junk dealers and scrap processors when purchasing items like copper wire, tubing, or cable, requiring them to obtain detailed information from sellers, including government-issued identification and proof of how they obtained the property, and to retain copies of this identification. Furthermore, it explicitly prohibits the sale or purchase of metal marked with the name, logo, or initials of a critical infrastructure provider, or metal that has been altered to conceal such markings, or wire and cable commonly used by these providers, with exceptions for authorized representatives of the providers themselves.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8675