HB1994 – Making a second or subsequent theft of a catalytic converter or other metal a Class B rather than a Class C felony, and lengthening the sentence if a thief confronted someone trying to prevent the theft.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Young (R; 26th District; Kitsap Peninsula) (Co-Sponsors Sutherland and Jacobsen – Rs)
Current status – Referred to the House Committee on Public Safety.
Next step would be – Scheduling a hearing.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.
See also HB1815; HB1873 and SB5495.

Summary –
The bill would make a second or subsequent theft of a catalytic converter or other commercial metal property, nonferrous metal property, or private metal property with a value between $750 and $5,0000 a class B felony, rather than a Class C felony like such thefts of most other kinds of property. It would count a conviction for theft in the third degree, of property worth less than $750, as a first violation if the original charge was for this class B felony.

It would add twelve months to the standard sentence range if it had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that someone convicted of this crime had engaged in a confrontation during the theft with the property owner or a third party trying to prevent it from occurring.