Relating to certain criminal offenses involving mail or a mail receptacle key or lock; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 1281 amends Texas Penal Code Section 31.20 to create a new criminal offense for intentionally taking mail without consent when intending to deprive someone of it or steal negotiable instruments. The bill increases penalties based on the scale of the crime: stealing mail from 50+ addressees or 50+ negotiable instruments becomes a first-degree felony, while smaller-scale offenses range from state jail felonies to third-degree felonies. This law directly affects individuals who steal mail from residential or business mailboxes, including packages, letters, or sealed items delivered by carriers. The policy change clarifies and escalates criminal penalties for mail theft to better address thefts targeting multiple victims or financial instruments. The bill was signed into law and takes effect September 1, 2025.