Electric Company Contracts, Capacity Market Models, and Regional Transmission Organizations - Studies
House Bill 143, titled the “Porch Piracy Act of 2025,” creates a new criminal offense for knowingly or willfully taking or exercising control over mail or a package delivered to another person without the intended recipient’s permission and with intent to deprive the owner. The bill defines “mail or package” broadly to include items delivered or left for pickup by the U.S. Postal Service or a delivery service company that contains tangible personal property.
The bill classifies a violation as a felony punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. It also authorizes the court, as part of sentencing, to impose stay-away conditions barring the defendant from the location of the offense, the victim’s real property, the victim’s workplace, and any other location the State’s Attorney proved was targeted during the offense. The act would take effect October 1, 2025.
HB0143 would add a new section to Maryland’s Criminal Law Article specifically addressing theft of mail and packages, creating a standalone felony offense for package theft and mail theft. It would expand sentencing options by allowing courts to impose geographic stay-away restrictions tied to the victim and the offense location, affecting convicted defendants, victims, prosecutors, and courts. The bill would not merely adjust penalties for existing theft offenses; it would create a targeted statute aimed at porch piracy and delivery theft.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and property-protection bill with a straightforward law-enforcement purpose. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or opposition in the supplied materials. The available information suggests a neutral-to-supportive policy posture focused on deterring package theft and giving courts additional tools at sentencing.
No specific contention is documented in the provided materials. Potential points of discussion, if raised in committee, would likely involve whether package theft should be treated as a felony in all cases, whether the five-year maximum penalty is proportionate, and whether the stay-away conditions are sufficiently tailored. Another possible issue is how broadly the bill covers delivery services and what proof is required to show intent to deprive the owner.