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House OKs new organized retail‑theft offense and approves enhanced penalties for cargo theft
Summary
The Arkansas House passed measures creating an offense for organized retail theft and adding an enhanced penalty for cargo theft. Sponsors argued the bills protect businesses and the supply chain; one measure carried an emergency clause.
Senate Bill 300, described by Representative Beatty on the floor as a measure "to create the criminal offense of organized retail crime," passed the House on a recorded vote of 98 yea, 0 nay.
Representative Moore explained Senate Bill 301, which creates an enhanced penalty for theft of cargo and was presented with an emergency clause. Moore told the House cargo theft has "skyrocketed by 1500% since 02/2021," and said the problem costs the supply chain tens of millions each year. On the floor he cited a $35,000,000 annual cost figure and argued prosecutors should be able to seek enhanced penalties for organized theft of cargo moving in commerce, including rail, truck and intermodal containers.
The House approved SB301 (with emergency clause) by recorded ballot: 87 yea, 2 nay, 6 present. The clerk announced the bill and its emergency clause had passed.
Why it matters
Supporters said both bills protect retailers, carriers and consumers by creating clearer criminal tools to address coordinated thefts and large-scale cargo losses. The cargo-theft measure spans multiple modes of transportation and includes an enhanced sentencing range for prosecutors to seek, up to what the sponsor described on the floor as a penalty not to exceed 10 years for certain offenders.
Ending
Both bills now proceed to the Senate/possible enrollment and further steps as required; sponsors emphasized business and supply-chain impacts during the floor explanations.
