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HB 782

Criminal Law - Taking and Breaking Open Letters - Penalty

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Frank Conaway

HB 782 establishes state criminal penalties for taking and breaking open letters, addressing mail theft and tampering offenses under Maryland law.

Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 782

Legislative bill overview

HB 782 establishes or modifies criminal penalties for unlawfully taking and breaking open letters or mail. The bill addresses mail theft and tampering offenses under Maryland criminal law, specifying what constitutes these crimes and what punishments apply.

Why is this important

Mail theft and tampering are federal crimes that can involve identity theft, fraud, or interference with correspondence. This state-level bill fills gaps in Maryland law by providing clear state penalties for mail-related crimes that may not rise to federal prosecution thresholds or occur in contexts where federal jurisdiction doesn't apply.

Potential points of contention

  • Penalty severity: Disagreement over whether proposed penalties are proportionate to the offense or if they're too harsh/lenient compared to other property crimes
  • Definitional clarity: Questions about what conduct exactly qualifies as "taking" or "breaking open" letters—whether this includes misdelivered mail, picking up someone else's mail from a shared mailbox, or only intentional theft
  • Overlap with federal law: Concerns about redundancy with existing federal mail theft statutes (18 U.S.C. § 1708) and whether state prosecution is necessary or creates double jeopardy issues

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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