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Committee unanimously backs bill to make tampering with telecom and other key infrastructure a felony
Summary
Senate Bill 64 would add telephone lines and broadband services to the definition of key infrastructure assets and create a felony for damage or tampering that renders service inoperable; the Senate Judiciary Committee reported the bill favorably, 7-0.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-0 to report Senate Bill 64 favorably after industry witnesses and the bill sponsor described an increase in vandalism and theft that has damaged telecommunications infrastructure.
Senator Brandon Storm, sponsor, said the measure would protect "key infrastructure assets" by naming telephone lines and broadband networks among covered assets and making damage or tampering that renders those assets inoperable a class D felony. Representatives from Charter Communications and AT&T explained the legislative need.
Dalton Mortman, director of state government affairs for Charter Communications, told the committee the company had experienced a rising number of incidents targeting plant and fiber, including more than 20 incidents of theft and vandalism in February 2024 that affected roughly 30,000 customers. "It's requiring us to pull all of our resources out of the field, to remove them from projects that are expanding broadband," Mortman said, describing operational impacts.
Holly Spade, identified as external affairs for AT&T, added that telecommunications networks serve public-safety functions — including 9‑1‑1 centers and hospitals — and said including telecom in the statute would reduce service disruptions from vandalism and theft.
Committee action and votes: The committee adopted a committee substitute and then voted on the bill as amended. Senator Reid seconded the motion to report the bill; the clerk recorded aye votes from Senator Carroll, Senator Deneen, Senator Nemez, Senator Reid, Senator Thomas, Vice Chair Wheeler and Chair Storm. The committee recorded a unanimous 7-0 recommendation to the floor.
What the bill does: As described by the sponsor and industry witnesses, the measure (1) clarifies the definition of covered critical assets to include telephone and broadband facilities, (2) makes damaging or tampering with those assets a class D felony when the act renders the asset inoperable or dangerous, and (3) provides prosecutors a specific criminal charge for repairable and non‑repairable interference with communications infrastructure.
Next steps: SB 64 will move to the full Senate with a favorable committee recommendation. Industry witnesses said they will continue to work with law enforcement and the legislature on implementation and enforcement details.
