House approves clarification to porch-package theft law in SSSB 156, 65-6

The Utah House on the floor approved Second Substitute Senate Bill 156, a criminal-offense amendment clarifying language about theft of packages left at residences.

Representative Brooks, the House sponsor, said the change narrows ambiguity in the statute by clarifying that the felony applies when a package is taken from a porch regardless of which carrier delivered it. "Last year, we passed a law that made it a felony if someone stole the package off your front porch," Brooks said, and the Senate "added 1 word" to make the text explicitly cover private common carriers. Brooks added, "We can now throw them in jail."

Representative Burton asked whether the prior statute already covered packages delivered by private carriers; Brooks replied the amendment was intended to remove confusion about whether companies such as Amazon could be private common carriers and therefore covered by the felony provision. After the brief exchange, the House opened voting and SSSB 156 passed with a recorded vote of 65 yes and 6 no. The bill will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the President’s signature.

The measure was presented as a clarification rather than a new substantive expansion of penalties. Sponsors said the change responds to drafting concerns raised after last year’s enactment and seeks to ensure consistent application across delivery platforms. The House took no amendment to the text on the floor and moved the bill to final processing.