H.B. No. 4414 amends the Texas Penal Code to address criminal offenses related to mail and mail receptacle keys or locks. The bill redefines "mail" to include items that are in transit or have been delivered but not yet received by the addressee, and introduces the term "negotiable instrument" as defined in the Business & Commerce Code. It establishes that a person commits an offense if they intentionally appropriate mail without the consent of the addressee, with the intent to deprive the addressee of the mail or to steal a negotiable instrument. The penalties for such offenses are escalated based on the number of addressees affected, with specific classifications of felonies depending on the scale of the appropriation.

Additionally, the bill creates a new offense concerning the unlawful conduct involving mail receptacle keys or locks. It specifies that obtaining, possessing, duplicating, transferring, or using a postal service key or lock with the intent to harm or defraud another person constitutes a felony of the third degree, which can escalate to a second-degree felony for repeat offenders. The changes in law will apply only to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 31.20, Penal Code 3.104 (Penal Code 31, Penal Code 3)