State action on organized retail crime (ORC) legislation continues at a steady pace.
Last week, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed Assembly Bill 89, which allows retail theft to be aggregated and increases penalties for repeat offenders.
Earlier this month, Governor Tina Kotek (D) of Oregon signed HB 4041 into law. The measure increases both the monetary threshold used to determine the offense level for theft and the aggregate threshold for the value of the property.
In February, Wyoming’s governor, Mark Gordon (R), signed two pieces of legislation into law. Senate File 7 increases the maximum penalty for theft of property valued under $1,000 and lowers the threshold for a felony theft charge for repeat offenders. Senate File 8 creates the offense of absconding for criminal purposes, including traveling across county or state lines to commit additional crimes or to conceal proceeds or property obtained. Both laws go into effect on July 1.
Additional ORC bills of note include Hawaii’s SB 3072, which has moved to the second chamber and would establish a mandatory minimum sentence for theft in the first degree if the value of the stolen property is over $250,000. In Arizona, House lawmakers have passed HB 2970, which would expand state jurisdiction for the crime of fraudulent schemes to include offenses occurring outside the state or a single jurisdiction.
Efforts to address the issues of gift card fraud and cargo theft are also ongoing.
Last month, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed HB 2347, which adds gift cards to the list of financial cards a prosecutor can charge individuals with illegally obtaining money, goods or services. This bill was carried over from the 2025 legislative session.
Virginia HB 662 was sent to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s (D) desk and would create the offense of gift card fraud and establish its penalties. The governor has until April 13 to take action on the bill. West Virginia’s HB 4990 passed through the legislature on the final day of the session and would similarly establish the offense of gift card fraud. Georgia and Maryland are also progressing gift card fraud bills.
Michigan’s HB 5126 and HB 5125 have moved to the Senate and aim to enhance penalties for cargo theft. Senate lawmakers in Arizona passed SB 1452, which would establish a Cargo Theft Task Force within the Attorney General’s office.
