Bill > SB1281

This bill modifies Texas criminal law to enhance protections against mail theft and unauthorized use of mail receptacle keys or locks. The bill expands the definition of "mail" to include items in transit or recently delivered, and adds a definition for "negotiable instrument" from the Business & Commerce Code. It creates new criminal offenses and penalties for mail appropriation, introducing presumptions about intent when someone possesses mail from multiple addressees or contains multiple negotiable instruments. The bill establishes graduated felony penalties based on the number of addressees or negotiable instruments involved, with increased severity for offenses targeting disabled or elderly individuals. Additionally, the bill creates a new criminal offense for unlawfully obtaining, possessing, duplicating, transferring, or using postal service keys or locks, with penalties ranging from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony for repeat offenders. These changes aim to provide stronger legal tools to prosecute mail-related crimes and protect individuals from potential fraud or theft. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1281