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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0792*
HOUSE BILL 792
E1, E2 6lr3157
HB 126/25 – 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; providing for the disposition 4
of interest accrued for overdue restitution payments under certa in circumstances; 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
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 UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE OR A DELIVERY 22
SERVICE COMPANY THAT DELIVERS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 792
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWI NGLY OR WILLFULLY AN D WITHOUT 1
PERMISSION OF T HE INTENDED RECIPIENT OF THE MAIL OR PAC KAGE 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 WAS 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) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the Central Collection Unit may: 21
(1) collect overdue restitution in accordance with Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the 22
State Finance and Procurement Article; and 23
(2) certify a restitution obligor who is in arrears on restitution payments 24
exceeding $30 under the judgment of restitution to: 25
(i) the Comptroller for income tax refund interception in accordance 26
with Title 13, Subtitle 9, Part III of the Tax – General Article; and 27
(ii) the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency for State lottery 28
prize and video lottery facility prize payout interception in accordance with § 11–618 of this 29
subtitle. 30
HOUSE BILL 792 3
(c) (1) The Central Collection Unit may not compromise and settle a judgment 1
of restitution unless: 2
(i) the Division or the Department of Juvenile Services obtains the 3
consent of the victim; or 4
(ii) the court orders otherwise because a victim cannot be located. 5
(2) The Division or the Department of Juvenile Services shall contact the 6
victim to determine whether the victim consents to compromise and settle a judgment of 7
restitution. 8
(d) If complete restitution and interest have been paid or a judgment of restitution 9
has been compromised and settled as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Division, 10
the Department of Juvenile Services, or the Central Collection Unit immediately shall 11
notify: 12
(1) the court that issued the judgment by filing the statement as provided 13
under § 11–608(c) of this subtitle that the judgment has been satisfied; and 14
(2) the last known employer of a restitution obligor to terminate an 15
earnings withholding order issued under § 11–617 of this subtitle. 16
(e) (1) Restitution is overdue if the restitution or a restitution payment is n ot 17
paid: 18
(i) by the date that the court orders; or 19
(ii) if no date is ordered, by the later of: 20
1. the date the Division or the Department of Juvenile 21
Services directs the restitution obligor to pay restitution or make a restitution payment; or 22
2. 30 days after the court enters a judgment of restitution. 23
(2) (I) If restitution is overdue, the amount of the arrearage is the 24
amount of restitution ordered and any interest allowed by law, minus any amount 25
previously paid or received under the judgment of restitution. 26
(II) INTEREST ACCRUED UNDE R SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 27
PARAGRAPH FOR RESTITUTION ORDERED UNDER § 7–106.1 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW 28
ARTICLE SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS: 29
1. 50% TO THE PERSON TO WHO M THE MAIL OR 30
PACKAGE WAS ADDRESSED; AND 31
4 HOUSE BILL 792
2. 50% TO THE COURT. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 2
October 1, 2026. 3