SB75 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses, theft of property further provided for

Summary

SB75 expands Alabama theft laws to cover unauthorized control of items mailed or shipped to others, adds theft by deception and charity-related theft, and sets a discovery-based time limit for deception-based cases, effective Oct. 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal to knowingly obtain or exert unauthorized control over property that is mailed or shipped to someone else with the intent to deprive the recipient. It also adds theft by deception and theft of donated items left at charitable organizations or near drop boxes, including items within 30 feet of a drop box or trailer. It includes a rule about stealing property in the custody of a law enforcement agency that an agent represents as stolen, and it changes the time limit for prosecuting deception-based theft to start at the discovery of the deception, with a five-year window to prosecute.

Who It Affects

• Recipients of mailed or shipped items and donors to charitable organizations: their items could be charged as theft if someone unlawfully takes or deceives to deprive them of property, including donated items and items at charity drop boxes.
• Potential offenders, including those who steal by deception or steal from items in law enforcement custody, and prosecutors: faces new offenses and timing rules for when such cases can be charged.

Key Provisions

• Adds theft of property by unauthorized control over mailed or shipped items (new subdivision for items mailed or shipped to another).
• Adds theft of property by deception: knowingly obtaining control of someone else's property by deception with intent to deprive.
• Adds theft of property in the custody of a law enforcement agency that was explicitly represented as stolen by an agent of the agency.
• Adds theft of donated items left on charity property, in a drop box or trailer, or within 30 feet of a drop box/trailer belonging to a charity.
• Adds a discovery-based limitation period for deception-based theft: prosecution must commence within five years after discovery of the deception.
• 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