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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0786*
HOUSE BILL 786
E1, E2 6lr3174
HB 135/25 – JUD
By: Delegate Conaway
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Law – Theft – Mail and Packages 2
(Porch Piracy Act of 2026) 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the theft of mail or packages; requiring the Central 4
Collections Unit to take certain actions on certain overdue restitution; and generally 5
relating to theft of mail and packages. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Criminal Law 8
Section 7–106.1 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Criminal Procedure 13
Section 11–616 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2025 Replacement Volume) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Criminal Law 19
7–106.1. 20
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “MAIL OR PACKAGE” MEANS AN ITEM DELIVERED OR 21
LEFT TO BE COLLECTED BY THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE OR A DELIVERY SERVICE 22
COMPANY THAT DELIVERS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. 23
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(B) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWI NGLY OR WILLFULLY AN D WITHOUT 1
PERMISSION OF TH E INTENDED RECIPIENT OF THE MAIL OR PACKA GE OBTAIN OR 2
EXERT CONTROL OVER M AIL OR A PACKAGE DEL IVERED TO ANOTHER WI TH THE 3
INTENT TO DEPRIVE THE OWNER OF THE MAIL OR PACKAGE. 4
(C) (1) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY 5
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS. 6
(2) AS A CONDITION OF SENTENCING, THE COURT SHALL ORDER THE 7
DEFENDANT TO: 8
(I) RESTORE THE MAIL OR PACKAGE TAKEN TO THE PERSON TO 9
WHOM THE MAIL OR PACKAGE IS ADDRESSED; OR 10
(II) PAY RESTITUTION FOR THE VALUE OF THE MAIL OR 11
PACKAGE UNDER TITLE 11, SUBTITLE 6 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE. 12
Article – Criminal Procedure 13
11–616. 14
(a) The Division or the Department of Juvenile Services: 15
(1) in addition to other actions authorized under Part I of this subtitle, may 16
refer an overdue restitution account for collection to the Central Collection Unit; and 17
(2) if probation or other supervision is terminated and restitution is still 18
owed, shall refer the overdue restitution account for collection to the Central Collection 19
Unit. 20
(b) (1) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the Central Collection Unit 21
may: 22
[(1)] (I) collect overdue restitution in accordance with Title 3, Subtitle 3 23
of the State Finance and Procurement Article; and 24
[(2)] (II) certify a restitution obligor who is in arrears on restitution 25
payments exceeding $30 under the judgment of restitution to: 26
[(i)] 1. the Comptroller for income tax refund interception in 27
accordance with Title 13, Subtitle 9, Part III of the Tax – General Article; and 28
[(ii)] 2. the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency for State 29
lottery prize and video lottery facility prize payout interception in accordance with § 30
11–618 of this subtitle. 31
HOUSE BILL 786 3
(2) THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT SHALL REPORT ANY OVERDUE 1
RESTITUTION OWED IN RELATION TO A VIOLATION OF § 7–106.1 OF THE CRIMINAL 2
LAW ARTICLE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES, AS DEFINED IN § 14–1201 OF 3
THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE. 4
(c) (1) The Central Collection Unit may not compromise and settle a judgment 5
of restitution unless: 6
(i) the Division or the Department of Juvenile Services obtains the 7
consent of the victim; or 8
(ii) the court orders otherwise because a victim cannot be located. 9
(2) The Division or the Department of Juvenile Serv ices shall contact the 10
victim to determine whether the victim consents to compromise and settle a judgment of 11
restitution. 12
(d) If complete restitution and interest have been paid or a judgment of restitution 13
has been compromised and settled as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Division, 14
the Department of Juvenile Services, or the Central Collection Unit immediately shall 15
notify: 16
(1) the court that issued the judgment by filing the statement as provided 17
under § 11–608(c) of this subtitle that the judgment has been satisfied; and 18
(2) the last known employer of a restitution obligor to terminate an 19
earnings withholding order issued under § 11–617 of this subtitle. 20
(e) (1) Restitution is overdue if the restitution or a restitution payment is not 21
paid: 22
(i) by the date that the court orders; or 23
(ii) if no date is ordered, by the later of: 24
1. the date the Division or the Department of Juvenile 25
Services directs the restitution obligor to pay restitution or make a restitution payment; or 26
2. 30 days after the court enters a judgment of restitution. 27
(2) If restitution is overdue, the amount of the arrearage is the amount of 28
restitution ordered and any interest allowed by law, minus any amount previously paid or 29
received under the judgment of restitution. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2026. 32
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