HB0787 • 2026

Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegate Conaway
Last action: 2026-02-05
Official status: In the House - Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages from intended recipients; and authorizing the court to order a person convicted under the Act for a third or subsequent offense to participate in substance use disorder evaluation and treatment.

What This Bill Does

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages from intended recipients; and authorizing the court to order a person convicted under the Act for a third or subsequent offense to participate in substance use disorder evaluation and treatment.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-05 House
Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-04 House
First Reading Judiciary
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)
Maryland General Assembly
Text - Racial Equity Impact Note

Official Summary Text

Prohibiting the theft of mail or packages from intended recipients; and authorizing the court to order a person convicted under the Act for a third or subsequent offense to participate in substance use disorder evaluation and treatment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0787*

HOUSE BILL 787
E1 6lr3177
HB 280/25 – 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; authorizing the court to order 4
a certain person to undergo evaluation and treatment for a substance us e disorder; 5
and generally 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

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Criminal Law 14

7–106.1. 15

(A) IN THIS SECTION, “MAIL OR PACKAGE” MEANS AN ITEM DELIVERED OR 16
LEFT TO BE COLLECTED BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE OR A DELIVERY 17
SERVICE COMPANY THAT DELIVERS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. 18

(B) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWI NGLY OR WILLFULLY AN D WITHOUT 19
PERMISSION OF THE IN TENDED RECIPIENT OF THE MAIL OR PACKAGE OBTAIN OR 20
EXERT CONTROL OVER M AIL OR A PACKAGE DEL IVERED TO ANOTHER WI TH THE 21
INTENT TO DEPRIVE THE OWNER OF THE MAIL OR PACKAGE. 22

2 HOUSE BILL 787

(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A FELONY AND 1
ON CONVICTION: 2

(1) SHALL BE ORDERED BY THE COURT TO: 3

(I) RESTORE THE MAIL OR PACKAGE TO THE PERSON TO WHOM 4
THE MAIL OR PACKAGE IS ADDRESSED; OR 5

(II) PAY RESTIT UTION FOR THE VALUE OF THE MAIL OR 6
PACKAGE UNDER TITLE 11, SUBTITLE 6 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE; 7
AND 8

(2) FOR A THIRD OR SUBSE QUENT OFFENSE , IS SUBJECT TO 9
IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS OR A 10
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,500 OR BOTH. 11

(D) AS A CONDITION OF SEN TENCING FOR A THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT 12
CONVICTION UNDER THI S SECTION, THE COURT MAY ORDER THE DEFENDANT TO 13
UNDERGO EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FOR A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. 14

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16