Bill > HB2213

This bill addresses theft and vandalism involving metal property by making several significant changes to existing laws governing scrap metal businesses. The bill requires scrap metal businesses to maintain more detailed records of metal transactions, including taking photographs of the metal property, collecting seller identification, and digitally uploading transaction information to a Washington State Patrol database for transactions valued at $50 or more. Businesses must now retain purchased metal property for at least 10 days and are prohibited from conducting transactions in cash, instead requiring payment through non-transferable checks or electronic methods. The bill also creates a new Critical Infrastructure Crime Reduction Unit within the Attorney General's office to assist local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting metal theft cases, with a specific focus on crimes affecting critical infrastructure. Additionally, the legislation establishes a dedicated account to fund this new unit, which can receive money from legislative appropriations, donations, and grants. The changes aim to make it more difficult for stolen metal to be sold and to provide better tools for law enforcement to track and prosecute metal theft crimes.

Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2213&Year=2025&Initiative=false