Bill targets organized retail theft rings with new federal tools

H.R. 2853119th CongressPassed one chamberLatest action May 13, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record

Crime & justice

Read the official text

Official title: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025

Introduced: April 10, 2025

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

Decoded

The plain-language version leads. 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. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov

Make the call

Three steps: where you stand, your script, the call.

Where do you stand?

Where does it stand?

IntroducedApr 10, 2025
House committee
House vote
SenateYou are here · May 13, 2026
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: May 13, 2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

See how a call works

Share on WhatsApp

How it's being covered

Coverage of this bill from across the press — each outlet's political lean labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it hasn't.

Newest of these articles: Aug 20, 2026

theshelbyreport.com
Not rated
NGA Lauds House Passage Of ORC Act, Citing Threat To Independent Grocers
May 13, 2026
“NGA has praised the U.S. House for passing the "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act," a critical tool against theft rings harming grocers.” — theshelbyreport.com
cyberscoop.com
Not rated
Retail theft bill spurs ‘very large and very dangerous’ surveillance fears
Aug 20, 2026
“A bipartisan bill targeting organized retail theft is gaining momentum in Congress, but civil rights groups warn the legislation creates a dangerous DHS surveil...” — cyberscoop.com
foxnews.com
Leans right
Cargo theft hits everything from LEGO to tequila. We need the Senate to help stop it
May 20, 2026
“Cargo theft costs the trucking industry $18 million a day, raising prices for consumers. The House passed CORCA to combat organized theft networks, and now the ...” — foxnews.com
nypost.com
Leans right
How cargo thieves are hijacking California — and what we can do about it
Mar 11, 2026
“The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) would strengthen federal coordination, improve data sharing among law enforcement agencies, and give investigat...” — nypost.com
dailykos.com
Leans left
Homeland Security finds a new sneaky way to steal your data
May 13, 2026
“In a barely publicized House vote on Tuesday evening, 144 Democrats joined 203 Republicans to pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act—one of the biggest...” — dailykos.com

Lean labels describe the news outlet, not this bill or any party. Ratings by AllSides.

Where does it stand?

IntroducedApr 10, 2025
House committee
House vote
SenateYou are here · May 13, 2026
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: May 13, 2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

How it's being covered

Coverage of this bill from across the press — each outlet's political lean labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it hasn't.

Newest of these articles: Aug 20, 2026

theshelbyreport.com

Not rated

NGA Lauds House Passage Of ORC Act, Citing Threat To Independent Grocers

May 13, 2026

cyberscoop.com

Not rated

Retail theft bill spurs ‘very large and very dangerous’ surveillance fears

Aug 20, 2026

foxnews.com

Leans right

Cargo theft hits everything from LEGO to tequila. We need the Senate to help stop it