A bill increasing criminal penalties for people who steal catalytic converters passed the Texas Senate on Monday.
Senate Bill 224, which combined two anti-theft bills from Southeast Texas Senators Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), Carol Alvarado (D-Houston), and Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), passed the Senate unanimously.
The bill was dubbed the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act after an officer [who was] killed in the line of duty while trying to stop a catalytic converter theft in Houston.
Under the legislation, criminals caught possessing a catalytic converter will face harsher criminal penalties. The legislature has left exceptions for those who possess catalytic converters for legitimate business purposes.
The bill also targets large crime rings that have turned catalytic converter theft into a lucrative black market business by raising the penalty for anyone who possesses over $300,000 worth of converters to a first-degree felony. If criminals are caught using a firearm during thefts, penalties will also increase to a first-degree felony.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, catalytic converter theft has become a nationwide law enforcement problem. Stolen converters have led to increased insurance costs for drivers and companies alike.
Catalytic converter thefts jumped by 109% from June 2021 to June 2022. Since 2019, reported thefts have spiked 400% across the country, according to State Farm Insurance. Texas sees the second highest number of total catalytic converter thefts in the country, behind only California.
Legislators celebrated the passage of the bill.
“Organized criminals are willing to kill to get a piece of the catalytic converter theft rings that I estimate costs taxpayers in excess [of] $100,000,000. That’s why SB 224, the Darren Almendarez Act, by Senator @CarolforTexas is so important. It passed the Senate 31-0 and will make sure Texas is no longer a prime hunting ground for catalytic converter thieves,” tweeted Sen. Bettencourt.
Sen. Alvarado thanked her partners and allies for helping her craft and pass the Senate bill in a press release.
“I am proud to have worked with law enforcement, prosecutors, industry stakeholders and my colleagues to ensure that this bill will give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and prosecute these dangerous criminals to the full extent of the law and make our communities safer,” read the release.
Law enforcement agencies also celebrated the bill. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy thanked the Texas Senate for honoring the department’s fallen officer with the legislation.
“In Austin witnessing a bill in memory of Darren Almendarez going before the Texas Senate. Thank You @CarolforTexas and @whitmire_john @TeamBettencourt @mayes_middleton for honoring Darren’s life with Senate Bill 224, also called the ‘Deputy Darren Almendarez Act.’”
The bill now moves to the Texas House of Representatives, where it will be considered. It would go into effect upon passage by the House.
