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Senate moves to tighten theft penalties after split debate over costs and deterrence
Summary
Senate Bill 19 would raise misdemeanor penalties for certain theft‑related offenses and reinstate higher local jail terms for repeat offenders; supporters say it will deter retail theft, opponents cite fiscal and capacity concerns.
The Montana Senate on Feb. 5 approved committee passage of Senate Bill 19, a bill that revises sentencing for theft‑related offenses and raises misdemeanor penalties that were changed by a 2017 reform law. Sponsor Senator Usher said the measure restores pre‑2017 penalties to deter increasing retail theft and other property crimes.
Usher described the earlier 2017 reform (HB 133 of 2017) as having unintentionally created a profit incentive for thieves by setting low fines for higher‑value thefts. Under SB 19, the penal consequences for repeated low‑level theft would include up…
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