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Missouri hearing advances proposals to tighten resale rules for catalytic converters amid law‑enforcement support
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Summary
House Bill 2,206 would require proof of ownership at point of sale, standardized buyer records and licensing for scrapyards to deter catalytic‑converter theft; sheriffs supported the bill while industry witnesses warned against additional paperwork and urged enforcement against illegal operators.
Representative Don Mayhew introduced House Bill 2,206 as a response to ongoing catalytic‑converter thefts that disproportionately affect older and lower‑income vehicle owners. Mayhew said stolen converters often leave victims without affordable replacement options and that strengthened point‑of‑sale accountability is needed.
Sheriff Stacy Ball of Pulaski County told the committee the bill would create traceability and standardize records to make anonymous resale more difficult, and that his office had handled dozens of local converter‑theft cases. "If you acquire it legally, you have nothing to worry about. If you didn't, there's accountability," he said.
Recycling‑industry witnesses said they generally keep extensive records and already photograph sellers and vehicles, but warned the bill’s new paperwork and reporting requirements would burden compliant businesses and urged enforcement action against illegal operators who evade recordkeeping. The Missouri Police Chiefs and other law‑enforcement groups submitted testimony in support; some trade groups recommended targeted statutory fixes rather than wide new recordkeeping mandates.
Committee members said they planned to resume the hearing after floor business; the committee did not take a final vote on HB 2,206 during this session. The hearing produced a mix of law‑enforcement urgency and industry concerns about regulatory complexity and compliance costs.
