Bill targets organized retail theft rings with new federal tools
Passed one chamberH.R. 2853Latest action
Sponsor: David P. Joyce · Representative · OH
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
HR 2853 lets prosecutors combine theft values over 12 months and creates a federal crime coordination center.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill updates federal law so prosecutors can add up the value of multiple thefts over a 12-month period to meet dollar thresholds for federal charges, even when individual thefts are small. It expands "stolen goods" crimes to include gift cards and prepaid cards and allows seizure of related money and property. It also creates a seven-year Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center at DHS to unite federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement with retail and shipping companies.
Who does it affect?
Retailers, shipping and logistics companies, and their employees and customers are directly affected, along with law enforcement agencies at all levels.
Why does it matter?
The changes give prosecutors and police expanded legal tools and a central coordination hub to pursue organized theft rings, which Congress says have grown alongside violence against retail and security workers.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 10, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · May 13, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Recorded votes
Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.
House · · Roll call 157
As recorded
- Question
- On Motion to and Pass, as Amended
- Result:
- Passed
- 348
- Nay
- 60
- 0
- 21
Republicans 203 yes, 1 no, 12 not voting · Democrats 144 yes, 59 no, 9 not voting · Independent 1 yes
Official recordHow members voted
The official record lists how each member voted.Official record
See how a call works
How it's being covered
Coverage of this bill from across the press. Each outlet's political lean is labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it has not.
Newest of these articles:
Coverage of this bill so far comes from one side of the spectrum. Read it with that in mind.
retaildive.com
Not rated
How the retail crime bill could bolster ICESep 16, 2026
wwd.com
Not rated
cyberscoop.com
Not rated
foxnews.com
Leans right
theshelbyreport.com
Not rated
Lean labels describe the news outlet, not this bill or any party. Ratings by AllSides.