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Connecticut2026Passed Legislature

HB05563

Changes to Laws on Retail Theft and Larceny

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules for organized retail theft, creates new crimes for selling stolen goods and gift card fraud as forms of larceny, changes how civil liability works for taking items without paying, and adjusts who can receive parentage information.

What it does

  • Changes the definition of 'organized retail theft' to include stealing over $2,000 in a year or selling stolen goods to someone who knows they are stolen.
  • Creates new crimes for fostering the sale of stolen property and committing gift card crime as forms of larceny.
  • Updates rules on civil liability for people 18 or older who take items without consent or change price tags.
  • Changes which information about parentage acknowledgment the Department of Public Health may release to others.

Who it affects

  • People accused of stealing retail goods in groups
  • People who buy, sell, or move stolen retail property
  • Individuals aged 18 or older involved in taking merchandise without paying
  • The Department of Public Health regarding parentage records

Limits and unknowns

  • The text provided does not list the specific penalties or jail time amounts for these crimes.
  • The full details on how parentage information sharing changes are cut off in this excerpt.
  • This summary only covers criminal law sections; other topics listed in the title like airports and taxes are not detailed here.

Plain language

Terms to know

Retail property fence
A person who buys stolen retail goods knowing they are stolen with the intent to sell or distribute them.
Organized retail theft
Stealing store items worth more than $2,000 over a year while working with others for money.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official summary

To (1) modify statutory provisions relating to the offenses of organized retail theft and accessory to organized retail theft, (2) establish fostering the sale of stolen property and gift card crime as forms of larceny, (3) modify statutory provisions relating to the civil liability of a person eighteen years of age or older or an emancipated minor who takes possession of certain goods, merchandise or produce without the consent of the owner and with a certain intention, or who alters the price indicia of such goods or merchandise, and (4) modify statutory provisions concerning to whom the Department of Public Health may release information concerning acknowledgment of parentage.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Signed by the Governor
  2. Transmitted to the Secretary of State
  3. Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
  4. Public Act 26-130LCO
  5. Senate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A
  6. Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 6252
  7. Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
  8. Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
  9. Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17
  10. Potential Disagreeing Action, Tabled for the Calendar, House
  11. House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A
  12. House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
  13. House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
  14. In Concurrence
  15. House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 5944
  16. House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
  17. Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17
  18. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
  19. Senate Calendar Number 543
  20. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO