HB 782

HOUSE BILL 782
  E1  6lr3175
  HB 291/25 – JUD
 By: Delegate Conaway
 Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
 Assigned to: Judiciary
  A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ACT concerning
2Criminal Law – Taking and Breaking Open Letters – Penalty
3 FOR the purpose of altering the penalty for violating the prohibition against taking and
4      breaking open a letter addressed to another without the other’s permission; and
5      generally relating to taking and breaking open a letter addressed to another.
6 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
7Article – Criminal Law
8Section 3–905
9Annotated Code of Maryland
10(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
11SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
12 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
13Article – Criminal Law
14 3–905.
15(a)    A person may not take and break open a letter that is not addressed to the
16 person without permission from the person to whom the letter is addressed or the personal
17 representative of the addressee’s estate.
18(b)     A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction
19 is subject to imprisonment for 6 days and a fine of [$15] $500.
20SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
21 October 1, 2026.
 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
  [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
  *hb0782*