SB 1281

relating to certain theft offenses involving mail or a mail
receptacle key or lock; creating a criminal offense; increasing a
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 31.20(a), Penal Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
(4)  "Negotiable instrument" has the meaning assigned
by Section 3.104, Business & Commerce Code.
SECTION 2.  Section 31.20, Penal Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (d-1) and
(b)  A person commits an offense if the person intentionally
appropriates mail from another person's mailbox or premises without
the effective consent of the addressee and with the intent to:
(1)  deprive that addressee of the mail; or
(2)  steal a negotiable instrument.
(d)  If it is shown on the trial of an offense under
Subsection (b)(1) [this section] that the appropriated mail
contained an item of identifying information and the actor
committed the offense with the intent to facilitate an offense
under Section 32.51, the [an] offense [under this section] is:
(1)  a state jail felony if the mail is appropriated
(2)  a felony of the third degree if the mail is
appropriated from at least 10 but fewer than 20 addressees;
(3)  a felony of the second degree if the mail is
appropriated from at least 20 but fewer than 50 addressees; or
(4)  a felony of the first degree if the mail is
appropriated from 50 or more addressees.
(d-1)  If it is shown on the trial of an offense under
Subsection (b)(2) that the appropriated mail contained a negotiable
instrument and the actor committed the offense with the intent to
facilitate an offense under Chapter 32, the offense is:
(1)  a state jail felony if five or fewer negotiable
(2)  a felony of the third degree if more than 5 but
fewer than 10 negotiable instruments are appropriated;
(3)  a felony of the second degree if at least 10 but
fewer than 50 negotiable instruments are appropriated; or
(4)  a felony of the first degree if 50 or more
negotiable instruments are appropriated.
(e-1)  An offense described for purposes of punishment by
Subsection (d-1)(1), (2), or (3) is increased to the next higher
category of offense if it is shown on the trial of the offense that
at the time of the offense the actor knew or had reason to believe
that an addressee from whom the actor appropriated a negotiable
instrument was a disabled individual or an elderly individual.
SECTION 3.  Chapter 31, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 31.201 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.201.  THEFT OF MAIL RECEPTACLE KEY OR LOCK.  (a)  In
(1)  "Mail" has the meaning assigned by Section 31.20.
(A)  the United States Postal Service or a
contractor of the United States Postal Service; or
(B)  any commercial courier that delivers mail.
(b)  A person commits an offense if the person steals a key or
lock adopted by a postal service for any box or other authorized
receptacle for the deposit or delivery of mail and:
(1)  knowingly makes, forges, or counterfeits the key
(2)  possesses the key or lock with the intent to
unlawfully or improperly use, sell, or otherwise dispose of the key
(3)  causes the key or lock to be unlawfully or
improperly used, sold, or otherwise disposed of.
(c)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first
SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.  An
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of
this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.