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HB 135

Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2025)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Frank Conaway

Maryland bill creates specific criminal penalties for porch theft, establishing mail and package theft as distinct offense to combat package theft losses.

Hearing 1/21 at 1:00 p.m.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 135

Legislative bill overview

HB 135, the Porch Piracy Act of 2025, creates specific criminal penalties for the theft of mail and packages left on residential property. The bill addresses the growing problem of package theft by establishing it as a distinct criminal offense with designated punishments under Maryland law.

Why is this important

Porch piracy has become a widespread problem affecting millions of households annually, with significant financial losses to consumers and increased costs for delivery services. This legislation provides law enforcement with explicit statutory tools to prosecute these thefts and potentially deters the behavior through clearly defined penalties, while also providing victims with legal recourse specifically tailored to this crime.

Potential points of contention

  • Penalty severity: Questions about whether the proposed criminal penalties are proportionate to the offense, and whether they align with existing Maryland theft statutes or create inconsistent treatment of similar crimes
  • Enforcement challenges: Difficulty in identifying and prosecuting offenders, and unclear how this law coordinates with existing theft laws already on the books
  • Property owner liability: Potential ambiguity about whether property owners have obligations to secure deliveries or prevent access to their porches, and how this affects legal responsibility

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

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