What it is
Bill to raise penalties for repeat petty theft offenders
It is a members’ bill. Introduced by parliamentary groups, the Senate, regional governments or citizens. It was introduced on 20 May 2021. Introduced by: Grupo Parlamentario Plural.
Official title: Organic Private member's bill to amend Organic Law 10/1995, of November 23, of the Penal Code, to increase penalties in cases of recidivism and multiple recidivism in the commission of minor theft offenses.
Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000144· updated 11 Nov
Automatic summary, not yet reviewed
- The bill proposes removing the exception that prevents applying the repeat offender aggravating factor to someone already convicted of a minor theft of less than 400 euros, by amending Article 22 of the Criminal Code.
- It proposes amending section 2 of Article 234 so that a person who commits minor theft and was previously convicted of another minor theft receives the penalty for ordinary theft: six to eighteen months in prison and a fine.
- With these changes, repeat offenders in thefts under 400 euros could face prison instead of only a fine, and multiple repeat offenders (convicted three or more times for similar crimes) could face one to three years in prison.
- The law would enter into force the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).
Who it affects
- People who commit thefts under 400 euros: They could face prison sentences if previously convicted of theft, instead of only a fine.
- Businesses and tourism: According to the bill, these are the sectors most affected by repeated thefts.
- Judges and courts: They would have to apply the new penalty aggravation rules in these cases.
Words worth knowing
- Delito leve
- A minor offense, punished with lighter penalties than a regular crime.
- Reincidencia
- Committing a crime again after being convicted of a similar one.
- Multirreincidencia
- Having been convicted at least three times for crimes of the same nature.
- Agravante
- A circumstance that makes a crime punishable with a harsher penalty.
- Ejecutoriamente
- When a conviction is final and can no longer be appealed.
It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries
Where it stands
How far did it get?
It took 2 of 7 steps. It reached Admitted, and today it is unfinished.
- Introduced20 May 2021Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
- Admitted25 May 2021The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
- Amendmentsnot reachedGroups propose changes.
- Committeenot reachedA committee goes through the text in detail.
- Plenarynot reachedAll 350 deputies vote.
- Senatenot reachedThe Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
- BOEnot reachedIt is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 6 official steps on a timeline
Was there a plenary vote?
We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.
What happens next
What happens now?
The legislature ended before it finished. To go on, someone would have to introduce it again in the new Cortes.
It has not been presented again yet.
Sources
Where does all this come from?
- Congreso de los Diputados, file 122/000144
Official title, type, author, dates and stage.
Retrieved 11 November 2026
- The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
- Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
- We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.