Del. Frank Conaway

Maddy summaryHB 79 prohibits anyone from knowingly mailing fake, fraudulent, or altered documents through the mail. It directly affects individuals who might attempt to send such documents, such as forged checks or false identification. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Law to define this as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 291 amends Maryland's criminal law to increase the fine for illegally opening someone else's mail. It raises the penalty from $15 to $500 for violating the existing prohibition against taking or breaking open a letter addressed to another person without permission. This change directly affects anyone who opens another person's mail without authorization, including postal workers, neighbors, or family members. The bill updates the fine amount while maintaining the offense as a misdemeanor punishable by up to six days in jail. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 269 modifies Maryland's statute of limitations for petty theft prosecutions. It extends the time prosecutors have to file charges for thefts under $100 from 2 years to 3 years (previously the same 2-year limit applied to all petty theft). For thefts valued at $100-$1,500, the existing 2-year filing window remains unchanged. The bill directly affects prosecutors, victims, and individuals accused of low-value theft, as it provides more time to pursue cases involving property or services worth less than $100. The penalties for conviction (fines, imprisonment, restitution) are not altered by this bill.

Maddy summaryHB 109 modifies Maryland's statute of limitations for misdemeanor theft cases. It extends the time prosecutors have to file charges for theft of property or services valued at $100-$1,500 from 2 to 3 years after the crime occurs. For theft under $100, the existing 2-year limit remains unchanged. The bill directly affects prosecutors (who gain more time to pursue cases), defendants (who face potential prosecution for longer), and victims (who have more time to report incidents). It does not change penalties or definitions of theft, only the timeframe for prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 14 requires Maryland prosecutors to notify victims (or their designated representatives) of certain theft cases within 10 days of court filings. It applies specifically to thefts valued at $100-$1,500 (misdemeanor) and under $100 (misdemeanor), with "victim’s representative" defined to include family members or guardians of minors, deceased, or disabled victims. Prosecutors must mail specific forms and pamphlets to victims, and victims can use the state’s MDEC system to request updates on case progress. The bill amends existing law to standardize this notification process for theft-related court proceedings.

Maddy summaryHB 143, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," makes it a felony to knowingly steal mail or packages delivered by the USPS or a delivery company without the recipient's permission. It directly affects individuals who commit such thefts, imposing up to 5 years in prison for conviction. The bill also authorizes courts to order convicted offenders to stay away from specific locations, including the theft site, the victim’s property, workplace, or any location they targeted during the crime. This law amends Maryland’s criminal code to address theft of delivered items and add specific sentencing conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 177 makes stealing or opening mail or packages intended for another person a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. It directly affects individuals who take or control mail/packages without the recipient's permission, including those handled by USPS or delivery companies. Key provisions include raising penalties from misdemeanors to felonies for mail theft (under new Section 7-106.1), requiring courts to notify the U.S. Postmaster General for USPS-related convictions, and clarifying that "mail or package" includes items delivered by USPS or commercial carriers. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 280, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," prohibits the theft of mail or packages delivered by USPS or private carriers. It makes knowingly taking someone else's delivered item without permission a felony, requiring offenders to either return the item or pay restitution for its value. For third or subsequent offenses, the law mandates a minimum 6-month prison term, up to 3 years, or a $1,500 fine, and allows courts to order substance use disorder evaluation and treatment as part of sentencing. This bill directly affects individuals who steal mail/packages and applies to all deliveries covered under Maryland's criminal law.

Maddy summaryHB 135, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," makes stealing mail or packages delivered by USPS or a private carrier a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It requires courts to order offenders to either return the stolen items or pay restitution for their value. The bill also mandates that overdue restitution for these thefts be reported to consumer credit agencies, potentially affecting the offender’s credit score. This law directly targets individuals who steal mail/packages, while protecting intended recipients and strengthening enforcement through restitution and credit reporting mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 126, the "Porch Piracy Act of 2025," prohibits stealing mail or packages delivered by USPS or carriers (like Amazon or FedEx) by making it a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It directly affects thieves (who face criminal penalties), victims (who receive restitution), and courts (which manage restitution payments). The bill requires courts to order thieves to either return stolen items or pay restitution equal to their value, and mandates that 50% of accrued interest on overdue restitution payments goes to the victim while the other 50% goes to the court. This replaces older procedures for handling unpaid restitution, specifically clarifying how interest must be distributed.