HB 5059

Leach Bill Lets Only Recyclers Buy Removed Catalytic Converters

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67

Why it's charged

Dragnet

THE CAPTION

“relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

…“converter removed from a motor vehicle to a person who is not a”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption frames the bill around criminal conduct, but the offense covers any sale of any removed converter to anyone who is not a registered recycler. That includes an owner selling a lawfully removed part from their own vehicle, or one shop selling to another, with no theft or proof of bad intent required.

Dragnet

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle; creating a criminal offense.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Selling your own part to anyone else? State jail felony. No theft required!

The bill makes it a state jail felony for anyone to sell a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle to anyone other than a metal recycling entity registered under state law. It reaches every seller, including vehicle owners, repair shops and parts businesses, and it also adjusts the rule that presumes owners, people authorized by owners, and businesses are lawfully in possession of a removed converter. Starting September 1, 2025, a removed converter can be lawfully sold only to a registered recycler, and any other sale, even of a person's own part, is a felony-level offense.

Labels

Labels: CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle; creating a criminal offense.”NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5059 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67

ITEM

relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle; creating a criminal offense.

WHAT IT DOES

Selling your own part to anyone else? State jail felony. No theft required!

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 50%

THE CAPTION

“relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

…“converter removed from a motor vehicle to a person who is not a”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Jeff Leach

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1.14M Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273K Republican Party of Texas$182K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,141,482.69

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash: $555,000.00
Paid by others: $586,482.69
Total: $1,141,482.69

digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273,017.05

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $238,017.05
Total: $273,017.05

canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Republican Party of Texas$182,117.94

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $182,117.94
Total: $182,117.94

mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072948.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash: $555,000.00
Paid by others: $586,482.69
Total: $1,141,482.69

digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $238,017.05
Total: $273,017.05

canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $182,117.94
Total: $182,117.94

mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072948.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025

04/07/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2813 by Alvarado (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Vehicles & Traffic--Equipment

SECONDHAND METAL

Text

The text as introduced · 328 words

89R10386 JCG-D

By: Leach
H.B. No. 5059

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to criminal conduct involving a catalytic converter

removed from a motor vehicle; creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 31.21(b), Penal Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(b) A person is presumed to be authorized to possess a

catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle if

the person:

(1) is the owner, as defined by Section 601.002,

Transportation Code, of the vehicle from which the catalytic

converter was removed or is authorized by the vehicle owner to

possess the catalytic converter ; or

(2) possesses the catalytic converter in the ordinary

course of the person's business, including in the ordinary course

of business of an entity described by Section 1956.123(1),

Occupations Code.

SECTION 2. Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter C-2 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C-2. RESTRICTION ON SALE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED

FROM MOTOR VEHICLE TO CERTAIN PERSONS

Sec. 1956.130. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "motor

vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201,

Transportation Code.

Sec. 1956.131. APPLICABILITY. Notwithstanding any other

provision of this chapter, this subchapter applies to the sale by

any person, including a person described by Section 1956.002(1), of

a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle to any other

person.

Sec. 1956.132. OFFENSE: SALE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED

FROM MOTOR VEHICLE TO PERSON OTHER THAN METAL RECYCLING ENTITY. (a)

A person commits an offense if the person sells a catalytic

converter removed from a motor vehicle to a person who is not a

metal recycling entity registered under this chapter.

(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.

(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section

also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor may be

prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.