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House approves bill criminalizing wifi jammers; exemption for alarm systems draws opposition
Summary
Senate Bill 959 was passed to add wifi/signal jammers to burglary‑tool statutes and to exempt alarm equipment information from the state's right‑to‑repair rules. Opponents warned the exemption could limit consumer repair options and favor alarm vendors.
The Oregon House approved Senate Bill 959, which adds wifi and signal jammers to the list of items that can constitute burglary tools and clarifies that alarm equipment information is not subject to the state's right‑to‑repair disclosure requirements.
Representative Pam Krupp, speaking for the bill, said it “modifies a crime of possession of burglary tools and theft devices” and that the measure “adds wifi or signal jammers” to that list to help address criminals who use jammers to disable home security systems.
Representative Khanh Tran opposed the exemption for alarm systems from the state’s right‑to‑repair law, arguing that the change “will not make Oregonians any safer” and that right‑to‑repair already protects against harmful disclosures. Tran said the exemption “simply exempts all alarm system from the right to repair completely,” and warned it risks concentrating repair markets in vendor hands and increasing e‑waste.
Representative Rob Elmer relayed an account from a constituent whose doorbell camera went dark as someone approached the front door; Elmer said the story illustrated how jammers can be used to mask criminal activity. Representative Mark Mannix supported the bill, saying it helps protect systems and gives alarm companies secrecy to prevent system disabling while protecting customers.
The House adopted the bill on third reading; the clerk declared it passed.
