Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)
HB0786, the “Porch Piracy Act of 2026,” creates a new criminal offense for knowingly and willfully taking or exercising control over mail or a package delivered to another person, without 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 contain tangible personal property. A violation would be a felony punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
The bill also requires a sentencing court to order restitution as a condition of sentencing, either by returning the stolen mail or package to the intended recipient or by paying the value of the item under Maryland’s restitution laws. In addition, it amends the restitution collection statute to require the Central Collection Unit to report overdue restitution tied to this new mail-and-package theft offense to consumer reporting agencies. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB0786 would add a new felony theft offense to Maryland’s Criminal Law Article specifically targeting mail theft and package theft, commonly referred to as porch piracy. It would also expand the state’s restitution enforcement framework by directing the Central Collection Unit to report overdue restitution arising from violations of the new offense to consumer reporting agencies, in addition to existing collection tools such as tax refund interception and lottery prize interception. The bill affects defendants convicted under the new section, victims of mail/package theft, courts imposing restitution, and state agencies responsible for restitution collection.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public-safety and consumer-protection response to a widely recognized theft problem, with no recorded committee testimony or votes indicating organized opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s title and structure suggest a straightforward punitive and restitution-focused approach, which typically aligns with concerns about protecting residents’ deliveries and deterring repeat theft. Because no transcript or vote data is available, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as generally supportive or at least not visibly contested in the provided record.
The main policy questions raised by the bill are likely to concern whether mail and package theft should be treated as a standalone felony, whether a five-year maximum sentence is proportionate, and whether reporting overdue restitution to consumer reporting agencies is an appropriate enforcement tool. Potential supporters would include victims’ advocates, delivery-service interests, and law enforcement proponents of stronger deterrence. Potential critics could include criminal justice reform advocates or those concerned about expanding felony liability and collateral consequences for relatively low-value thefts. No specific objections or amendments are reflected in the provided committee materials.