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.

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
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in theft and related offenses, further
 3      providing for grading of theft offenses.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Section 3903(a.1) and (d) of Title 18 of the
 7   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
 8   § 3903.    Grading of theft offenses.
 9      * * *
10      (a.1)    Felony of the third degree.--Except as provided in
11   subsection (a) or (a.2), theft constitutes a felony of the third
12   degree if the amount involved exceeds $2,000, or if the property
13   stolen is an automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat or
14   other motor-propelled vehicle, or if the property stolen or
15   disposed of, in any manner, is human remains, or in the case of
16   theft by receiving stolen property, if the receiver is in the
17   business of buying or selling stolen property.
18      * * *
 1      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 2   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 3   subsection:
 4      "Human remains."   Any part of a dead human body, the cremated
 5   remains of a dead human body or any other remains of a dead
 6   human body.
 7      "Manmade disaster."   Any industrial, nuclear or
 8   transportation accident, explosion, conflagration, power
 9   failure, natural resource shortage or other condition, except
10   enemy action, resulting from manmade causes, such as oil spills
11   and other injurious environmental contamination, which threatens
12   or causes substantial damage to property, human suffering,
13   hardship or loss of life.
14      "Natural disaster."   Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood,
15   high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake,
16   landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion or
17   other catastrophe which results in substantial damage to
18   property, hardship, suffering or possible loss of life.
19      "War-caused disaster."   Any condition following an attack
20   upon the United States resulting in substantial damage to
21   property or injury to persons in the United States caused by use
22   of bombs, missiles, shellfire, nuclear, radiological, chemical
23   or biological means, or other weapons or overt paramilitary
24   actions, or other conditions such as sabotage.
25      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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