Pennsylvania HB 2256: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in theft and related offenses, further providing for grading of theft offenses.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2949
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2256
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PUGH, GREINER, OLSOMMER, HANBIDGE, BENNINGHOFF AND
ZIMMERMAN, FEBRUARY 27, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 2, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in theft and related offenses, further
providing for grading of theft offenses.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3903(a.1) and (d) of Title 18 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 3903. Grading of theft offenses.
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(a.1) Felony of the third degree.--Except as provided in
subsection (a) or (a.2), theft constitutes a felony of the third
degree if the amount involved exceeds $2,000, or if the property
stolen is an automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat or
other motor-propelled vehicle, or if the property stolen or
disposed of, in any manner, is human remains, or in the case of
theft by receiving stolen property, if the receiver is in the
business of buying or selling stolen property.
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(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection:
"Human remains." Any part of a dead human body, the cremated
remains of a dead human body or any other remains of a dead
human body.
"Manmade disaster." Any industrial, nuclear or
transportation accident, explosion, conflagration, power
failure, natural resource shortage or other condition, except
enemy action, resulting from manmade causes, such as oil spills
and other injurious environmental contamination, which threatens
or causes substantial damage to property, human suffering,
hardship or loss of life.
"Natural disaster." Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood,
high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake,
landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion or
other catastrophe which results in substantial damage to
property, hardship, suffering or possible loss of life.
"War-caused disaster." Any condition following an attack
upon the United States resulting in substantial damage to
property or injury to persons in the United States caused by use
of bombs, missiles, shellfire, nuclear, radiological, chemical
or biological means, or other weapons or overt paramilitary
actions, or other conditions such as sabotage.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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