To amend sections 2913.02, 2913.51, 4737.012, 4737.04, 4737.041, 4737.043, 4737.045, 4737.99, 4738.03, 4738.07, 4738.12, and 4775.09 and to enact section 4737.046 of the Revised Code regarding the sale of used catalytic converters.
HB210 is a catalytic-converter anti-theft and resale regulation bill. It expands Ohio’s criminal theft and receiving-stolen-property statutes to create specific offenses and enhanced penalties for stealing, receiving, or trafficking used catalytic converters, including higher felony levels for repeat offenders and substantial fines for business entities. The bill also adds related provisions for impoundment of vehicles used in metal theft and makes a person complicit if they sell a catalytic converter to someone who violates the new identification or ownership-verification requirements.
The bill also tightens the rules for scrap metal dealers, bulk merchandise container dealers, motor vehicle salvage dealers, and motor vehicle repair operators. It requires registration with the Department of Public Safety, recordkeeping, photographs of sellers and items, proof of ownership for used catalytic converters, delayed payment, and reporting to a state registry. It authorizes investigations, subpoenas, civil penalties, suspension or revocation of registrations, and injunctions for unregistered or noncompliant activity. It also bars licensing or renewal for persons convicted of the new catalytic-converter-related offenses and updates several cross-references in Ohio law to align those licensing and enforcement provisions.
The bill’s impact on state law is broad but targeted: it creates a new regulatory framework for the used catalytic converter market while amending existing theft, receiving stolen property, scrap metal, salvage, and repair statutes. It would give law enforcement and the Department of Public Safety more tools to track transactions, identify sellers, and penalize noncompliant dealers, while also limiting the ability of convicted offenders to operate in these industries. It further directs certain fines and fees into the infrastructure protection fund and related local law-enforcement uses.
The general sentiment reflected in the voting history is strongly favorable. The bill received unanimous support in House committee and then passed the House overwhelmingly, 91-2, suggesting broad agreement that catalytic converter theft is a serious problem and that tighter controls are warranted. No committee transcript was provided, but the vote pattern indicates the measure was viewed as a public-safety and anti-theft bill with substantial bipartisan support.
The main points of contention likely center on the compliance burden placed on legitimate businesses and the expanded enforcement powers given to the state. Scrap metal dealers, bulk merchandise container dealers, salvage operators, and repair businesses must adopt new documentation, reporting, and verification procedures, and the bill imposes significant penalties for mistakes or violations. Another possible concern is the breadth of the investigative authority and the use of a law-enforcement list of suspected thieves, though the bill includes some procedural protections and appeal mechanisms.
HB210 would amend Ohio’s theft, receiving stolen property, scrap metal, bulk merchandise container, salvage dealer, and motor vehicle repair statutes to create a specialized regulatory and criminal framework for used catalytic converters. It adds new offenses, enhanced felony penalties, business-entity fines, vehicle impoundment provisions, registration and reporting requirements, and enforcement authority for the Department of Public Safety, while also restricting licensing for persons convicted of the new catalytic-converter-related offenses.
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill. It passed House committee unanimously and then passed the House by a wide margin, indicating that lawmakers generally viewed it as a needed response to catalytic converter theft and related trafficking. No opposing testimony or transcript was provided, but the recorded votes suggest broad bipartisan approval.
Likely areas of contention are the new compliance obligations on scrap metal dealers, bulk merchandise container dealers, salvage businesses, and repair operators, including recordkeeping, photographs, proof-of-ownership checks, delayed payment, and daily electronic reporting. The bill also expands investigative and penalty authority for the Department of Public Safety, which could raise concerns about administrative burden, privacy, and enforcement discretion. Any debate would likely be between public-safety advocates favoring stronger anti-theft controls and industry stakeholders concerned about operational costs and liability.