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Delegates introduce broad “Porch Piracy” package — from longer statutes of limitation to automatic restitution and diversion options
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Summary
A cluster of bills introduced by Delegate Frank Conaway and others would increase penalties for stealing and opening mail and packages, extend statutes of limitation for petty theft of delivered goods, create mandatory restitution paths and central-collection reporting, and allow diversion or substance-treatment alternatives for repeat offenders.
Delegate Frank Conaway presented a suite of bills — collectively described as the “Porch Piracy Act of 2025” — that would create new and stiffer penalties for stealing packages, tighten rules on fraudulent documents, lengthen statutes of limitation for petty theft of delivered goods, and require restitution and central-collection reporting when defendants fail to pay.
“Someone steals your package off the porch, and it can take law enforcement months to identify the perpetrator,” Conaway said. “These bills try to make victims whole and to deter repeat offenders.”
Key provisions introduced included:
- HB 126: Raised penalties and required restitution for theft of mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service; included a provision to restore stolen mail where feasible.
- HB 135: Required central collection units to retain restitution records so victims can be paid later if a defendant’s assets are found.
- HB 143: Would permit a court to issue a protective “stay-away” order (similar to a peace order) against someone convicted of repeatedly stealing packages, and makes repeat violations potentially a felony with up to five years of imprisonment.
- HB 210 and HB 280: For third or subsequent violations these bills would allow diversion to treatment or substance-use-evaluation programs as an alternative to incarceration.
- HB 79: Would criminalize fabrication or presentation of fake or altered documents (a response to earlier testimony about fake leases and deeds).
- HB 109 and HB 269: Suggested extending the statute of limitations for petty theft of property under $100 from two years to three, and other targeted adjustments (HB 291 proposed raising maximum fines for opening a letter without authorization).
Supporters argued the bills respond to repeat offenders and scams involving stolen medications, checks, and packages that can contain essential goods such as insulin. Delegate Conaway said the bills would better enable restitution and reduce repeat victimization. Delegate Kaufman asked for data on the scale of porch piracy; Conaway said precise statewide figures were not provided in the hearing packet but offered to supply numbers.
Some members of the committee and other witnesses suggested refinement. Delegate Grammer and others praised mandatory restitution as a tool to help victims, but raised questions about overlap with existing federal mail statutes and about whether some measures should be handled through civil restitution or by amending the peace-order process. Several delegates suggested consolidating the proposals into a single omnibus bill.
Ending: The bills were introduced and discussed in committee; lawmakers requested additional data and drafting to reconcile overlaps with federal mail statutes and with existing civil remedies. No vote was taken during the hearing.
