HB87 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Crimes and offenses, amending the threshold amount relating to theft by fraudulent leasing or rental of property, Sec. 13A-8-144 am'd.

Summary

HB 87 would change the dollar thresholds that determine how theft by fraudulent leasing or rental of property is charged in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 13A-8-144 to set new threshold amounts for theft by fraudulent leasing or rental of property, using values cited in the bill ($500 and $1,500) to decide how serious the offense is. Under the bill, lower-value cases would be classified as a Class A misdemeanor and higher-value cases as a Class C felony. The bill also includes technical revisions and notes about Amendment 621, explaining the local-funding implications and stating the bill is exempt from those requirements because it creates or changes a crime. It becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• People accused of theft by fraudulent leasing or rental of property, whose charges and penalties would depend on the value of the property involved.
• Property owners, landlords, and others who lease property, as the changes affect how fraudulent leasing is prosecuted and punished.

Key Provisions

• Section 1amends 13A-8-144 to change the threshold values used to classify theft by fraudulent leasing or rental of property (involving $500 and $1,500).
• Section 1 clarifies that lower-value cases would be Class A misdemeanors and higher-value cases would be Class C felonies based on the threshold.
• Section 2 notes the bill is exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
• Section 3 establishes 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