Senate approves grant program to fight organized retail theft

Senate Bill 275 A passed the Oregon Senate on April 16 to establish a grant program aimed at combating organized retail theft.

Sponsor Senator Thatcher told the floor the program will provide grants to cities, counties and the Department of Justice to pay for equipment, staffing and other resources to investigate and prosecute organized shoplifting schemes. ‘‘This is not about petty theft, it's about stopping the organized criminals who are hurting our communities,’’ Thatcher said.

The bill directs funds to law enforcement and prosecutors and sets up reporting requirements: the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission will track expenditures and report on program outcomes by September 2027, the sponsor said on the floor. Thatcher called the program a ‘‘focused plan to get the job done’’ and added an emergency clause so the program can take effect immediately if enacted.

Floor discussion did not produce amendments. The clerk declared Senate Bill 275 A passed after a roll call that the clerk reported as a constitutional majority; the roll call summary on the floor reported 26 ayes.

Supporters said the grant program aims to help retailers and communities facing coordinated theft rings that impose economic costs and threaten business viability. The bill limits eligible uses to equipment, personnel and investigative resources to help police and prosecutors build cases against organized theft networks.