Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2853
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-13: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to address organized retail crime and supply chain theft by strengthening federal criminal laws and creating a dedicated coordination center to support law enforcement efforts across jurisdictions.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill outlines congressional concerns about rising organized theft groups targeting retail stores, cargo shipments, and online marketplaces, noting increases in incidents, financial losses, violence, and links to other crimes such as drug trafficking and human smuggling.
- Criminal Law Amendments: Updates Title 18 of the U.S. Code to expand forfeiture and money laundering provisions to cover additional theft-related offenses, while modifying interstate theft statutes to include embezzlement, false pretenses, and lower thresholds for prosecution based on aggregate values over a 12-month period.
- Coordination Center: Establishes the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security, led by a Director from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to coordinate federal investigations, share information with state, local, and private sector partners, track trends, and provide training.
- Reporting and Sunset: Requires initial and annual reports to Congress, with the Center authorized for seven years before automatic termination.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens the scope of forfeiture under section 982 and money laundering under section 1956 to explicitly include crimes involving interstate shipments and transportation or sale of stolen goods.
- Revises sections 2314 and 2315 to permit prosecution of thefts with an aggregate value of $5,000 or more over any 12-month period, rather than requiring a single incident above that threshold, and expands definitions to cover embezzlement and other illegal acquisition methods.
- Adds a new section 305A to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, creating a permanent interagency structure for retail and cargo crime response.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases coordination demands on federal entities like Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and Customs and Border Protection, while offering support to state and local law enforcement through information sharing and technical assistance.
- On citizens: May lead to reduced retail theft and safer shopping environments but could result in higher consumer prices due to business losses; also addresses risks from diverted goods affecting product safety.
- On international relations: Targets transnational criminal networks moving stolen goods and profits overseas, potentially improving cross-border enforcement cooperation without direct new treaty obligations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Retailers and manufacturers facing theft losses.
- Federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies.
- Transportation and logistics companies in the supply chain.
- Consumers experiencing price increases or safety concerns.
- Online and physical marketplaces used to resell stolen items.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill expands federal jurisdiction over certain theft cases that previously fell primarily to states, raising questions about the balance between federal and state authority in criminal matters. It emphasizes intergovernmental information sharing while including safeguards against unauthorized disclosure. The seven-year sunset provision introduces a built-in review mechanism, reflecting political caution about long-term federal expansion in this area. No major constitutional challenges are evident in the text, though enhanced forfeiture rules could face future scrutiny regarding due process.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Cosponsors (206)
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Womack, Steve [R-AR-3], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6] and 156 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-13: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-12: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-05-12: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 348 - 60 (Roll no. 157). (text: CR H3364-3366) (Roll call 157)
- 2026-05-12: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 348 - 60 (Roll no. 157). (text: CR H3364-3366) (Roll call 157)
- 2026-05-12: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3376)
- 2026-05-12: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- 2026-05-12: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2853.
- 2026-05-12: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3364-3369)
- 2026-05-12: Mr. Knott moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-01-30: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 402.
- 2026-01-30: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-471.
- 2026-01-30: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-471.
- 2026-01-13: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 2026-01-13: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Bill Versions
- Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (22 pages)
- Combating Organized Retail Crime Act — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (20 pages)
- Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 — issued 2026-05-13 — PDF (20 pages)
- Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 — issued 2026-01-30 — PDF (22 pages)