Rep. Diego Camacho, 2nd right, speaks during a House session on Thursday.
A BILL that would make it illegal for recycling businesses to accept or purchase recyclable copper wire passed the House of Representatives on Thursday.
All 17 members present supported the measure. Reps. Julie Ogo, John Paul Sablan and Manny Castro were excused.
House Bill 23-65, authored by Rep. Diego Camacho, now goes to the Senate.
Prior to the bill’s passage, his colleagues accepted Camacho’s floor amendments, which clarified the definitions mentioned in the bill and allowed the House legal counsel to edit the bill’s technical language.
According to Camacho, the intent of the bill is to curb copper wire theft. “We end demand, we end supply,” he added.
According to H.B. 23-65 or the Copper Wire Theft Control Act of 2023, “No business engaging in secondary metals recycling or person employed by a secondary metals recycler shall possess, buy or sell copper wire.”
The prohibition would end after two years.
Camacho told Variety that his intent is to prevent copper wire recycling, and not the purchase of copper wire for legitimate construction purposes.
Under the bill, violators would be subject to a fine of $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to a year.
