Criminal Law - Theft - Mail and Packages (Porch Piracy Act of 2026)

HB 786 (Porch Piracy Act of 2026) prohibits stealing mail or packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or delivery companies as a felony, directly affecting individuals who commit such thefts. It requires courts to order convicted offenders to either return the stolen items or pay restitution for their value, and mandates the Central Collection Unit to report overdue restitution to consumer reporting agencies. The bill also creates new enforcement mechanisms, including automatic referral of overdue restitution over $30 to tax and lottery intercept programs. This law takes effect October 1, 2026, and amends Maryland’s Criminal Law (Section 7-106.1) and Criminal Procedure (Section 11-616) codes.