Telecommunications Infrastructure - Protections
Summary
Maryland SB782, passed by the Senate, requires junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers to register telecommunications equipment purchases with law enforcement and provide detailed descriptions. The bill prohibits these dealers from purchasing telecommunications equipment by any method other than check mailed to the seller's address, and bars resale or disposal of such equipment for 30 days following purchase. The legislation targets copper theft and infrastructure fraud in the telecommunications sector.
What changed
Maryland SB782 enacts new registration and transaction requirements for junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers purchasing telecommunications equipment. Dealers must now register with law enforcement, provide equipment descriptions including identifying information, and are restricted to check-based payments mailed to seller addresses. A mandatory 30-day hold period prohibits resale or disposal of telecommunications equipment from the date of purchase.
For Maryland's secondary market dealers handling telecommunications equipment, this legislation creates new compliance obligations including registration procedures, payment method restrictions, and inventory holding requirements. Dealers must implement systems to track and report telecommunications equipment acquisitions and may face penalties for non-compliance with the registration or transaction requirements established under this law.
What to do next
- Register telecommunications equipment purchases with local law enforcement officials
- Process telecommunications equipment purchases exclusively via check mailed to the seller's address
- Hold all telecommunications equipment for 30 days before sale or disposal
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Maryland / SB782 Passed SB782 Senate Bill Passed 2026-02-06
Telecommunications Infrastructure - Protections
Requiring certain junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers to register and provide a description including certain information of purchased telecommunications equipment with a certain law enforcement official; prohibiting junk dealers, scrap metal processors, and antique dealers from purchasing telecommunications equipment other than by check mailed to the seller's address; prohibiting the sale or disposal of certain telecommunications equipment for a period of 30 days after the date of purchase; etc.
Bill Details
State Maryland
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation...
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Sponsors
Carl Jackson (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-07 S Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-04-07 S Favorable with Amendments {333420/1 Adopted 2026-04-06 S Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance 2026-02-11 S Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-02-06 S First Reading Finance
Committee Referrals
2026-02-06 S Finance
Amendments
2026-04-07 Favorable with Amendments 333420/1 Adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
2026-02-10 Introduced 2026-04-07 Engrossed
Subjects
Business Regulation Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes Cable Television Commerce and Business Crimes and Punishments Disclosure Equipment Fines Information Technology Internet Access Law Enforcement Penalties and Sentences Registration Sheriffs Telecommunications Telephones Wreckers and Scrap Processors Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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