HB86 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Crimes and offenses, theft, to amend threshold amounts for theft of property offenses, Secs. 13A-8-1, 13A-8-3, 13A-8-4, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-5 am'd.

Summary

HB 86 would raise the dollar thresholds for theft of property offenses and update related language in Alabama's theft laws.

What This Bill Does

The bill increases the value bands that determine whether theft is charged as 4th, 3rd, 2nd, or 1st degree, and adds a provision for how certain multi-person theft schemes are charged. It also makes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update definitions and language to current style. Additionally, the bill notes it is exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it changes crime definitions, and it becomes effective the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• People who commit theft would be charged at different levels (felony or misdemeanor) based on the new value thresholds for the property stolen.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts would determine the charge level and penalties using the new thresholds; property owners may see different charges based on the value of what was stolen and whether it was from a person.

Key Provisions

• Raises threshold values for theft of property offenses across sections 13A-8-1, 13A-8-3, 13A-8-4, 13A-8-4.1, and 13A-8-5 to establish new value bands for the four degrees of theft.
• First-degree theft would apply to theft over the new higher amount or to theft from the person, with a separate provision for thefts that are part of a common plan or scheme and reach an aggregate value threshold over a 180-day period.
• Second-degree theft covers a mid-range value band (higher than the third-degree band but not meeting first-degree criteria), and third- and fourth-degree bands cover lower value ranges, establishing a stepped progression in penalties.
• Adds nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update defined terms and language to current style (definitions like deception, deprive, and related terms).
• Section 2 clarifies the act is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime (local funding considerations do not apply for this bill).
• Section 3 sets the act’s effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses