HB 2213
In CommitteeHouse
Metal property
Addressing theft and vandalism involving metal property.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill strengthens rules for scrap metal businesses to prevent metal theft and vandalism, requiring detailed transaction records, photo/video documentation, ID verification, and longer holding periods for suspicious items. It also creates a new state-level unit to help local law enforcement investigate and prosecute theft and vandalism affecting critical infrastructure.
- Scrap metal businesses must record detailed transaction information — including seller ID, vehicle details, photos of metal, and a signed declaration that the metal is not stolen — and keep records for five years.
- For transactions of $50 or more (or aggregated within 24 hours), businesses must upload transaction data to a state-approved database and hold the metal for at least 10 days.
- Sellers must present government-issued photo ID; cash payments are limited to $30 per transaction; larger amounts must be paid by nontransferable check or electronic means.
- Businesses must report suspected stolen metal to the Washington state patrol and hold property flagged as stolen for up to 10 business days upon request.
- A new unit within the attorney general’s office will assist local agencies in investigating and prosecuting metal theft and vandalism affecting critical infrastructure (e.g., power lines, pipelines, rail).
Who is affected
- Scrap metal businesses and recyclers — Scrap metal businesses must now collect and verify more detailed information from sellers, retain records longer, and follow stricter payment and documentation rules — including digital uploads and photo/video requirements — before completing transactions.
- Individuals selling scrap metal — Individuals selling metal must now present government-issued photo ID, sign a declaration under penalty of law that the metal is not stolen, and may face delays in receiving payment (e.g., no cash for amounts over $30).
- Local law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys — Local law enforcement and prosecutors will receive enhanced support from a new state-level unit to investigate and prosecute metal theft and vandalism cases involving critical infrastructure like power lines, pipelines, and rail systems.
- Critical infrastructure owners and operators — Businesses and utilities that own or operate critical infrastructure (e.g., utilities, telecom companies, railroads) may benefit from reduced theft and vandalism due to improved enforcement capacity and coordination.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Creation of a dedicated state-level unit to investigate and prosecute metal theft affecting critical infrastructure (e.g., power lines, pipelines) will enhance regional coordination and capacity — directly protecting public safety by reducing outages and service disruptions.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 5, Sec. 6Mandatory photo/video documentation, seller declarations under penalty of law, and proof of lawful wire burning significantly raise the barrier for fencing stolen property — making it harder for thieves to monetize stolen goods and aiding recovery of stolen items.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(h)-(i), Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(3)Requirement for businesses to report suspected stolen property to the Washington State Patrol and hold flagged items for up to 10 business days improves evidence preservation and supports timely law enforcement intervention.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(1), Sec. 3(3)Explicit forfeiture of suspected stolen property and ban on purchasing beer kegs from unlicensed sellers reduces opportunities for organized theft rings to exploit legal loopholes — protecting both infrastructure and consumer markets.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(7), Sec. 2(6)Prioritizing assistance to jurisdictions with higher theft rates ensures limited state resources target communities most harmed by infrastructure theft — potentially reducing economic losses and service disruptions in vulnerable areas.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 5(3)
Potential Concerns (5)
Scrap metal businesses face increased operational costs from mandatory photo/video documentation, digital uploads to state databases, and 10-day holding periods — especially burdensome for small, independent recyclers with limited tech infrastructure and staffing.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a)(ii), Sec. 1(4)(b), Sec. 4(1)Cash payment cap of $30 per transaction and requirement for nontransferable checks or electronic transfers disproportionately harms low-income individuals and unhoused people who rely on immediate cash for survival needs and may lack bank accounts or digital payment access.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(5), Sec. 2(4)Mandatory government-issued photo ID and digital capture of sellers’ IDs and vehicles create privacy risks and may deter vulnerable populations (e.g., unhoused, undocumented, or elderly without IDs) from legally selling scrap to avoid suspicion or surveillance.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(g), Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(5)(b)(i)While the bill creates a new state unit, local law enforcement still bears primary investigative and prosecutorial responsibility — and may lack resources to comply with the 5-day electronic record transmission requirement, especially in rural counties.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1), Sec. 1(3)Records are exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56), limiting transparency and oversight of how holds and reporting are administered — reducing accountability for potential overreach or misapplication.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Scrap metal recyclers — especially small, independently owned operations — will face significant compliance costs (e.g., digital recordkeeping, photo/video capture, holding periods), potentially reducing profitability or forcing consolidation or exit from the market. While the bill frames them as regulated entities, the burden falls most heavily on mom-and-pop recyclers without economies of scale.
Low-income and unhoused individuals who rely on selling scrap metal for income will face barriers: ID requirements, cash limits, and delayed payments may reduce access to immediate cash needs — while increased documentation could expose them to surveillance or false suspicion.
Local law enforcement gains enhanced state support for investigating metal theft, especially in critical infrastructure cases — but still bears primary investigative burden and must comply with new reporting timelines without guaranteed additional staffing or funding.
Utility companies, railroads, and telecom providers benefit from reduced theft of critical infrastructure components (e.g., copper wiring, pipelines), lowering repair costs and outage risks — but these gains derive from shifting enforcement costs onto businesses and sellers, not direct investment in infrastructure protection.
The state’s general fund avoids direct costs due to funding via federal/private grants and legislative appropriations — but if those funds fail to materialize, the burden could fall on general fund resources, indirectly affecting public services.