Catalytic Converter Bill Signed Into Law

The new law includes requirements for scrap metal dealers and establishes

The new law includes requirements for scrap metal dealers and establishes penalties for unauthorized possession.

A bill to address catalytic converter theft, HF 30 (Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights/Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville), was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz on March 16. The provisions in the bill will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2023.

Catalytic converters are a portion of the exhaust system of vehicles that filter out certain byproducts to reduce harmful emissions and improve efficiency. The precious metals contained in catalytic converters make them a target for theft, and reports of stolen converters have increased dramatically over the last several years.

Beginning Aug. 1, the new law establishes criminal penalties for possession of a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle or marked with specific identifying information. Possession of one catalytic converter is a misdemeanor, two is a gross misdemeanor, and three or more is a felony punishable by increasing penalties according to the number of converters in a person's possession.

The law also:

The League policy on catalytic converter theft:

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Catalytic Converter Bill Signed Into Law