Raising the Felony Threshold

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would increase the threshold for making a variety of crimes felonies, a measure aimed a saving the state prison system millions of dollars.

For example, the bill would increase from $500 to $1,000 the value of items required for a felony charge of theft.

A charge of aggravated vehicle theft would require the auto involved to be worth at least $20,000, up from the current $15,000.

The bill was introduced by members of the Joint Budget Committee in an effort to reduce the number of inmates in state prisons.