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Committee elevates penalty for stealing or receiving stolen checks to state-jail felony
Summary
The committee voted to report SB 1451, raising the penalty for theft or receipt of stolen checks from a class A misdemeanor to a state-jail felony; bank witnesses described rising check fraud and urged stiffer penalties to deter organized schemes.
Senator Flores presented SB 1451, a bill that would amend the penal code to increase the criminal classification for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check from a class A misdemeanor to a state-jail felony.
Banking witnesses described a surge in check fraud and forgery and urged the committee to raise penalties to deter organized schemes and better align punishments with the harm inflicted on victims and financial institutions. Jessica Palacci (First National Bank Texas) described a case in which an elderly customer lost more than $80,000 to a technology-support scam that enabled criminals to create fraudulent checks and negotiate them across multiple markets.
The chair moved and the committee reported SB 1451 to the Local & Uncontested calendar with a favorable recommendation (tally: 5 ayes, 0 nays). Supporters said elevated penalties provide stronger deterrence and encourage law enforcement to prioritize check-fraud investigations; no public opposition was recorded during the hearing.
The bill will be placed on the full Senate calendar.
