An act relating to the aggregate value of stolen property in certain crimes

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Richard Westman

The bill standardizes how the total value of stolen property is calculated across multiple items or acts to determine charges and penalties.

Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary

Summary of Bill: S.168 (2025-2026) – An act relating to the aggregate value of stolen property in certain crimes

Purpose and intent

The bill addresses how the aggregate value of stolen property is calculated in certain offenses.

It seeks to clarify or modify the criteria used to determine the total value of property involved in offenses such as theft, burglary, or related crimes when multiple items or acts are alleged, ensuring consistency in charging, sentencing, and related proceedings.

The overall aim is to provide a clearer standard for prosecutors and courts to assess the severity of offenses based on the total value stolen, which can influence charging decisions and punishment ranges.

Key provisions and changes (highlights based on bill title and typical frameworks)

Aggregate value standard: Establishes or revises the method for calculating the total monetary value of stolen property when multiple items are involved in a single criminal episode or related offenses.

Inclusion of items: Specifies what constitutes “stolen property” for aggregation (e.g., cash, goods, instruments, services, or other enumerated property) and whether certain items (e.g., recovered property, contraband) are included or excluded from the aggregate.

Timeframe for aggregation: Defines the period during which multiple theft acts can be counted together toward a single offense or consolidated offenses for purposes of value aggregation.

Valuation rules: Addresses how to value property at the time of offense, at trial, or by appraisals, including considerations for depreciation, inflation, or unique items.

Impact on charges and penalties: Clarifies how the aggregated value affects offense classification (e.g., petty theft vs. grand theft) and corresponding penalties, sentencing enhancements, or presumptions.

Coordination with related statutes: Ensures consistency with existing Vermont theft and property crimes statutes, and aligns with sentencing guidelines and any mandatory minimums or maximums that depend on value thresholds.

Procedural clean-up: May include parallel amendments to cross-referenced definitions, penalties schedules, or references in related sections to reflect the new aggregation methodology.

Who would be affected

Defendants charged with theft-related offenses where multiple items or acts contribute to the value of the property stolen.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges who must apply the aggregate value standard in charging, negotiating pleas, and sentencing.

Law enforcement and crime victims, insofar as findings about the total value influence case handling and restitution calculations.

Court clerks and prosecutors’ offices responsible for filing information and maintaining records reflecting the aggregated value.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read the 1st time and referred to Committee on Judiciary (as of 2026-01-06).

Next steps: The Judiciary Committee would review, possibly amend, and decide whether to move the bill forward to a floor vote and subsequent legislative stages.

Impact timeline depends on committee action and potential floor consideration within the 2025-2026 session.

Notes

The sponsor listed is co-sponsor Richard Westman.

Specific numeric thresholds, definitions, or exact text changes are not provided in the available summary. The bill’s full text would detail precise valuation rules, included property, and penalty implications.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize particular aspects (e.g., sentencing impact, procedural changes, or the interplay with restitution) once the bill’s full text is available.