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On January 13, the House Judiciary Committee took a major step forward, advancing H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, by a unanimous vote. During the markup, a bipartisan group of legislators expressed growing concerns about the escalating impact of organized retail crime (ORC) on communities, workers and the economy. Members emphasized that ORC is no longer a series of isolated theft incidents, but a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by coordinated networks that exploit online marketplaces, jurisdictional gaps and limited federal coordination.
ICSC has been a strong supporter of federal ORC legislation since the introduction of the first version of the bill in 2022.
The current bill seeks to strengthen federal tools to combat these criminal networks, improve interagency coordination and enhance data collection and information sharing between law enforcement and the private sector. Committee leaders stressed that ORC affects not only retailers, but also consumers, employees and local governments through higher costs, safety risks and lost tax revenue.
During the markup, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) highlighted the complexity of modern retail theft schemes and the urgent need for better federal data and coordination to understand and disrupt these networks. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) stated that organized retail crime is a real and nationwide problem, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful policy development to ensure solutions are effective and balanced.
Republican members echoed those concerns. Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) warned that criminal organizations involved in retail theft are becoming increasingly sophisticated and called for a coordinated federal response to match the scale of the threat. Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC) drew on his experience prosecuting organized crime rings, noting the serious economic and public safety consequences that retail theft imposes on American families and businesses.
The markup reflects growing bipartisan momentum to address organized retail crime at the federal level. For ICSC members, the advancement of H.R. 2853 represents an important step toward a more coordinated national strategy that recognizes ORC as a complex, organized and cross-jurisdictional challenge—one that requires collaboration among Congress, federal agencies, state and local law enforcement and the retail real estate community.
ICSC will continue to engage with lawmakers as the bill moves forward, advocating for practical, balanced solutions that protect retailers, employees, and communities while strengthening enforcement tools against organized criminal networks.