Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1715: Mail theft; definitions, penalty.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1715 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 4, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Mail theft; definitions, penalty. Primary sponsor: Vivian Watts (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 19, 2025): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0128).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Mail theft; penalty. Creates the offense of mail theft, punishable as a Class 6 felony, for any person who (i) knowingly, willfully, and with the intent to deprive, injure, damage, or defraud another (a) takes, destroys, hides, or embezzles mail or (b) obtains any mail by fraud or deception; (ii) buys, receives, conceals, or possesses (a) mail and knows or reasonably should know that the mail was unlawfully taken or obtained; (b) any key he knows or reasonably should know is suited to any lock adopted by the United States Postal Service that provides access to any mail receptacle located in a cluster mailbox unit or other mailbox panel used for the purpose of centralized mail in any neighborhood, including any condominium or apartment complex; or (c) a counterfeit device or key designed to provide access to any lock described in clause (b); or (iii) knowingly, willfully, and with the intent to steal any mail inside damages, opens, removes, injures, vandalizes, or destroys any mail receptacle. This bill is identical to SB 939.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivian Watts | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
| Amy Laufer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 55 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0128)
- Approved by Governor-Chapter 128 (Effective 07/01/25)
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
- Signed by President
- Signed by Speaker
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1715)
- Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1715ER)
- Enrolled
- Passed Senate (35-Y 1-N)
- Read third time
- Passed by for the day
Showing 12 most recent of 34 actions. Full history