Governor Jared Polis signed HB26-1101 into law on Thursday, putting Colorado at the front of a national fight against copper wire theft. The new measure cracks down on thieves who strip cell towers, power substations, and rail lines, while forcing recycling yards to track every suspicious sale. Lawmakers say it could finally stop the crime wave that has left entire communities in the dark.
Polis Signs HB26-1101 to Shield Critical Infrastructure
The bill takes direct aim at one of the fastest growing property crimes in the state. Governor Polis signed HB26-1101, a new bill into law aimed at preventing the theft of telecom and utility materials like copper wire, after lawmakers warned that stolen copper has become a growing problem across Colorado, impacting everything from electricity to emergency communication systems.
The legislation concerns adding criminal offenses related to critical infrastructure components to criminal offenses involving commodity metals, and adds several different criminal offenses related to the sale, possession, and failure to report stolen critical infrastructure material.
The Governor framed the signing as a public safety win. Polis says that theft of any kind is unacceptable and this new law will protect Colorado’s infrastructure by keeping trains running, homes heated and buildings safe.
Why Copper Theft Has Exploded Across Colorado
The numbers tell a brutal story. Copper prices have hit record territory, and thieves are following the money straight into utility yards and rail corridors.
COMEX copper broke above $6.00 per pound in January 2026, reaching an all-time high, driven by surging demand from AI data centers, EV infrastructure, and renewable energy buildout colliding with a global supply shortage. That price spike has turned ordinary utility wire into a target worth risking jail time for.
Colorado Springs has become a hot spot. CenturyLink is confronting a significant surge in copper wire theft across Colorado Springs, resulting in more than $440,000 in damages in 2026 and impacting more than 4,100 customers. Local police are also stretched thin. The Colorado Springs Police Department reports they have responded to twice as many metal theft cases this year as last.
The Regional Transportation District has been hit again and again:
- RTD reported 47 calls for service related to copper wire theft in 2024, 31 in 2025 and five confirmed cases so far in 2026.
- There have been at least nine thefts so far this year on RTD lines.
- Repairs for a single incident can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars in materials and labor.
New Rules for Recycling Yards and Scrap Dealers
The newly signed law requires recycling yards to keep detailed records and report suspicious sales involving telecom infrastructure materials. The goal is simple: choke off the cash market that fuels the crime.
The rules go far beyond a paperwork update. Here is how the new requirements break down:
| Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| No Cash Payments | Buyers cannot pay cash for commodity metal that was part of critical infrastructure unless the seller is paid by means of any process in which a picture of the seller is taken. |
| Seller Affidavit | Buyers cannot possess a commodity metal that was part of critical infrastructure without a certification from the seller or donator of the commodity metal. |
| Duty to Report | A buyer who unknowingly takes possession of commodity metals from critical infrastructure as part of a load of otherwise non-commodity metals without a written certification has a duty to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency or municipal code enforcement agency. |
| Open Records | An owner of a junk shop, junk store, salvage yard, or junk cart must make their book or register available to a law enforcement agency or municipal code enforcement agency upon request. |
Under the law, businesses that fail to keep proper records could face criminal penalties, while thieves could see enhanced charges tied to critical infrastructure theft.
The Public Safety Risks That Pushed Lawmakers to Act
Supporters argue this is not just a property crime. It is a public safety emergency that can knock out 911 service when families need it most.
Rep. Matt Soper, a Republican from District 54 covering Delta and Mesa counties, sponsored the bill alongside Rep. C. Espenoza and Senators W. Lindstedt and B. Pelton. He pulled no punches when describing the stakes.
“Imagine having an emergency, especially out in rural Colorado, where you rely on your cell phone and being unable to make a call because someone has stolen the copper taking down the effectiveness of the cell phone tower. So that’s where thieves definitely are putting the entire public at risk and why this is different than other types of theft crime.”
The damage often outweighs the value of the stolen metal by a wide margin. CenturyLink officials say the damage goes far beyond the value of the metal being stolen, because repairing the infrastructure can be a lengthy and complicated process, especially when fiber optic lines are involved.
Soper also explained how the new records will help investigators close cases faster. He said the evidence that comes from the business records would allow law enforcement to track down the thieves who are selling stolen materials to recycling yards, with consequences ranging based on the value of the materials.
What Communities Can Expect Next
The law arrives at a moment when copper crime is reshaping how utilities operate. CenturyLink has rolled out new GPS tracking devices placed inside the wires, and if a thief cuts and removes a wire containing a device, it transmits a signal to the company and law enforcement, allowing authorities to track the stolen material to a specific location.
RTD has tried its own deterrents on 120 miles of track. The agency is implementing deterrents, including embedding copper wire, installing wooden covers, and greasing wires, to reduce theft.
For most Colorado bills, the effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 12, 2026, if the GA adjourns sine die on May 13, 2026. That means scrap dealers and recyclers across the state have a short window to update their record keeping systems before enforcement begins.
Behind every stolen wire is a story of someone losing a phone signal, a power line going dark, or a train grinding to a halt during morning commute. This new law is Colorado’s promise that those stories will not keep repeating. If you have seen suspicious activity near a utility box or rail line, your tip could be the one that breaks open the next case. Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us how copper theft has touched your neighborhood.
