Urges President and Congress to enact "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023."

AR112

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 112

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges President and Congress to enact �Combating
Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Assembly
Resolution
urging Congress and the
President of the United States to enact the �Combating Organized Retail Crime
Act of 2023.�

Whereas,

The �Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023�, currently pending in
Congress as H.R.895 and S.140, aims to combat organized retail crime through an
increase in law enforcement resources and the establishment of the Center to
Combat Organized Retail Crime; and

Whereas,

Organized retail crime occurs when a group of people commit large-scale theft
with the intention of reselling the items in person or online for financial
gain; and

Whereas,

Organized retail crime continues to increase in severity in terms of economic
damages, as well as violence in retail environments, creating safety risks for
consumers and retail workers; and

Whereas,

In 2023, organized retail crime will cost U.S. retailers an estimated $100
billion; and

Whereas,

Organized retail crime costs U.S. retailers an average of $720,000 per $1
billion of merchandise sold, a 50 percent increase since 2015; and

Whereas,

Consumers bear the brunt of the economic damage caused by organized retail
crime as retailers increase their prices to offset the loss of profits; and

Whereas,

Eighty-six percent of retailers report that an organized retail crime subject
has verbally threatened a sales associate; and

Whereas,

Seventy-five percent of retailers report that an organized retail crime subject
has physically assaulted a sales associate; and

Whereas,

Forty percent of retailers report an organized retail crime subject has used a
weapon to harm a sales associate; and

Whereas,

The �Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023� aims to address the issue of
organized retail crime by ensuring law enforcement has the necessary tools to
combat the criminal organizations, such as by strengthening the federal money
laundering statutes and allowing federal judges to order criminal forfeiture
after convictions related to organized retail theft; and

Whereas,

The �Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023� establishes the Center to
Combat Organized Retail Crime within the Department of Homeland Security to
collaborate with retailers in addressing the issue, as well as to provide
reporting on organized retail crime activity and enforcement; and

Whereas,

It is imperative that Congress and the President enact the �Combating Organized
Retail Crime Act of 2023� in order to address the rampant organized retail
crime occurring across the U.S.; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This House respectfully
urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the �Combating
Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023.�

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and the Vice President of the
United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the
Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and every member
of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution urges Congress
and the President to enact the �Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023,�
currently pending as H.R.895 and S.140.�

���� Organized retail crime occurs
when a group of people commit large-scale theft with the intention of reselling
the items in person or online for financial gain.� Organized retail crime
continues to increase in severity in regard to economic damages.� In 2023, it
is estimated that organized retail crime will cost U.S. retailers $100 billion,
or an average of $720,000 per $1 billion of merchandise sold.� These numbers
indicate a 50 percent increase in costs from 2015 due to organized retail
crime.� Consumers are often forced to bear the brunt of the economic damages
caused as retailers raise prices to offset the loss in profits.�

���� Organized retail crime also
leads to an increase in violence in retail environments, creating safety risks
for consumers and retail employees.� A majority of retailers report that they
have experienced an organized retail crime subject verbally and/or physically
assault a sales associate, while forty percent of retailers report that an
organized retail crime subject has used a weapon to harm a sales associate.

���� The �Combating Organized
Retail Crime Act of 2023� aims to address the rampant issue of organized retail
crime by ensuring that law enforcement has the necessary tools to combat the
liable criminal organizations, such as strengthening the federal money
laundering statutes and allowing federal judges to order criminal forfeiture
after convictions related to organized retail theft.� The bill also establishes
the Center to Combat Organized Retail Crime within the Department of Homeland
Security to collaborate with retailers in addressing the issue, as well as to
provide reporting on organized retail crime activity and enforcement.