EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0109*
HOUSE BILL 109
E2, E1 5lr0961
(PRE–FILED) CF 5lr0962
By: Delegate Conaway
Requested: September 26, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Criminal Law – Misdemeanor Theft – Statute of Limitations 2
FOR the purpose of altering the statute of limitations applicable to the crime of theft of 3
property or services with a certain value; and generally relating to theft. 4
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
Article – Criminal Law 6
Section 7–104(g)(2) and (3) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Criminal Law 11
Section 7–104(i) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Criminal Law 17
7–104. 18
(g) (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a person 19
convicted of theft of property or services with a value of at least $100 but less than $1,500, 20
is guilty of a misdemeanor and: 21
(i) is subject to: 22
2 HOUSE BILL 109
1. for a first conviction, imprisonment not exceeding 6 1
months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both; and 2
2. for a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment not 3
exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $500 or both; and 4
(ii) shall restore the property taken to the owner or pay the owner 5
the value of the property or services. 6
(3) A person convicted of theft of property or services with a value of less 7
than $100 is guilty of a misdemeanor and: 8
(i) is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not 9
exceeding $500 or both; and 10
(ii) shall restore the property taken to the owner or pay the owner 11
the value of the property or services. 12
(i) (1) An action or prosecution for a violation of subsection (g)(2) [or (3)] of 13
this section shall be commenced within [2] 3 years after the commission of the crime. 14
(2) AN ACTION OR PROSECUT ION FOR A VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION 15
(G)(3) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE COMMENCED WITHI N 2 YEARS AFTER THE 16
COMMISSION OF THE CR IME. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2025. 19