HB305 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses, theft of property further provided for

Summary

HB305 broadens Alabama's theft laws to cover new scenarios like stolen mailed or donated items and theft by deception, and it changes the prosecution timing for deception-based theft with an effective date of October 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the theft statute to include additional ways to commit theft, such as knowingly taking control of someone else's property that was mailed or shipped to them, or donated items left at a charity or near its drop boxes. It also adds theft by deception as a crime and clarifies that property in law enforcement custody that a person is told by an agent was stolen can be stolen. Additionally, it changes the statute of limitations for deception-based theft cases so the clock starts only when the deception is discovered, and then a five-year window applies for prosecution. The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Property owners, recipients, and charitable organizations who could be victims of theft under the new categories (mailed/shipped items, donated items, and items in LE custody misrepresented as stolen).
• Potential offenders who commit theft by unauthorized control, deception, or by targeting mailed, shipped, or donated items (as well as prosecutors enforcing the updated definitions).

Key Provisions

• Adds theft of property to include: knowingly obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over the property of another with intent to deprive the owner.
• Adds theft by deception: knowingly obtaining by deception control over the property of another with intent to deprive the owner.
• Adds theft involving property in law enforcement custody that was represented by an agent as being stolen.
• Adds theft of donated items left on charity property or within 30 feet of a drop box or trailer belonging to a charitable organization.
• Adds theft of any item mailed or shipped to another person with intent to deprive the intended recipient.
• For deception-based theft, the statute of limitations starts when the deception is discovered, with a five-year window to prosecute after discovery.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

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 & Offenses