HR 2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025

HR 2853 in plain English: This bill expands federal law enforcement tools to combat organized retail and supply chain theft. It allows prosecutors to pursue cases based on the aggregate value of stolen goods over a 12-month period, adds these offenses as qualifying crimes under federal money laundering laws, and creates a new coordination center within the Department of Homeland Security.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to strengthen federal law enforcement tools against organized groups that steal retail goods and cargo, and to improve coordination among federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to combat these crimes.

Key points

• Allows federal prosecution when stolen goods reach an aggregate value of $5,000 or more over any 12-month period
• Makes organized retail theft a predicate offense under federal money laundering law, enabling broader charges
• Authorizes criminal forfeiture of property obtained from proceeds of covered offenses
• Expands money laundering law to cover crimes involving prepaid cards, gift certificates, and store gift cards
• Temporarily establishes a DHS center to coordinate federal efforts against organized retail and supply chain crime

Arguments supporters make

• Organized theft rings operate across state lines in ways that local police cannot effectively pursue, so federal coordination and stronger federal laws are needed to address the true scale of the problem.
• Allowing prosecutors to add up thefts over 12 months better reflects how organized crime actually operates — in repeated smaller incidents — and closes a loophole that lets groups avoid serious charges.
• Connecting retail and cargo theft to money laundering laws gives law enforcement proven tools that have successfully disrupted other types of organized crime.

Arguments opponents make

• Creating a new federal center and expanding federal jurisdiction into what has traditionally been state and local crime enforcement risks duplicating existing efforts and growing the federal bureaucracy without proven results.
• Aggregating theft values over a 12-month period to trigger federal charges could sweep in low-level or loosely connected individuals with the same harsh penalties meant for major crime bosses.
• The bill relies heavily on industry-reported statistics to justify broad new federal powers, and some researchers question whether organized retail crime data accurately reflects the full picture or is shaped by industry interests.

Tradeoffs

Expanding federal reach and aggregation rules may make it easier to prosecute sophisticated criminal networks, but also increases the risk of federal overreach into crimes traditionally handled at the state level and may subject less culpable individuals to severe federal penalties. The establishment of a temporary DHS coordination center adds resources but also adds federal bureaucracy and cost.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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