STORM HIGHLIGHTS COPPER THEFT LEGISLATION AT GOVERNOR’S LOCAL ISSUES CONFERENCE
FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 15, 2025) – Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sponsor of 2025’s Senate Bill 64, participated in a breakout panel discussion on copper theft during the 2025 Governor’s Local Issues Conference (GLIC) held in Louisville this week.
The annual conference is hosted by the Kentucky Department for Local Government and supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission. This year’s event brought together local government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders from across the commonwealth to address key issues impacting Kentucky communities. Participants include many local officials, including county judge/executives, magistrates, and area development districts.
Storm’s Thursday panel included Clay County Attorney Joe White, local leaders from both rural and urban communities, and other experts focused on combating copper theft and protecting critical infrastructure.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with my longtime colleague, Joe White, esteemed local community leaders from across the bluegrass, and other stakeholders during this panel,” Storm said. “While recent news reports brought to the surface criminal activity in Louisville related to copper theft and protecting infrastructure our constituents rely on every day, these types of criminal acts are also faced by rural communities in eastern Kentucky. I’m grateful we were all able to work together to bring stronger penalties and enforcement to this portion of our state statutes.”
The panel discussion took place just days after Louisville authorities announced seven arrests for damage to communications infrastructure and theft of copper wiring. Those were the first charged under Kentucky’s newly strengthened first-degree criminal mischief statute enacted through Storm’s Senate Bill 64.
The arrests followed a multi-agency investigation involving Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Third Division Detective Unit, LMPD Technology Operations, and the Critical Infrastructure Task Force. The investigation began after a tip from a scrap yard about sales of burnt wire consistent with telecommunications materials.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, whose office Storm works closely with as Senate Judiciary chair, commended Storm’s leadership on the legislation, noting that the law’s elevated penalties address crimes that “often result in life-threatening communication outages.”
About Senate Bill 64
Senate Bill 64 strengthens protections for critical infrastructure by expanding the scope of facilities covered under Kentucky’s criminal mischief statutes and elevating copper theft and related damage to a Class D felony. The law carried an emergency designation and became effective March 19.
The measure reflects the General Assembly’s recognition that critical infrastructure, from utilities and streetlights to telecommunications lines, is essential to public safety, emergency response, and community well-being, and that stronger penalties were necessary to deter the costly and dangerous crimes targeting these vital systems.
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Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, represents the 21st Senate District, including Casey, Laurel, Lincoln, and Rockcastle Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary and as non-voting co-chair of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. He also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Banking and Insurance, and Transportation. Additionally, he is a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary. In 2024, he served on the Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members, legislative committees, and additional resources.
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort in June to start the 2025 Interim. During this period, committees will meet to study policy issues, review implementation of recently passed legislation, and begin evaluating proposals for the 2026 Regular Session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The full 2025 Interim Calendar is available here. A weekly schedule with meeting times, topics, and agendas can be viewed at legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar.
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