SB 300 Arkansas Senate · 2025 Regular Session

TO CREATE THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

SB 300 creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas for "organized retail theft," targeting individuals who coordinate group thefts of consumer goods (like clothing or electronics) valued at over $1,000 within 120 days. The bill defines specific actions as part of this offense, such as organizing thefts, using devices to bypass security, or using stolen vehicles to facilitate the theft. It classifies the crime as a Class D felony (for $1,001-$5,000 value), Class C felony ($5,001-$25,000), or Class B felony (over $25,000), with penalties increasing based on the total value stolen. This law directly affects those involved in organized retail theft operations and provides clearer legal standards for prosecuting such cases.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed Mar 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 321 → SB 300 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a new criminal offense called 'organized retail theft' in Arkansas. It defines specific behaviors like working with others to commit theft, tampering with anti-theft devices, staying in stores after hours to steal, using electronic devices to facilitate theft, and using stolen vehicles during theft. The offense is classified as a felony with penalties ranging from Class D to Class B depending on the value of stolen goods.

Scope change

The bill adds a new criminal offense to Arkansas law that specifically targets organized retail theft activities, expanding criminal liability beyond individual theft to include coordinated criminal behavior.

SCOPE

Creates a new criminal offense called 'organized retail theft' that targets coordinated criminal activity in retail settings

DEFINITION

Defines 'consumer goods' as movable items for personal, family, or household use, and 'value' as the actual retail price at time of offense

REQUIREMENT

Establishes six specific behaviors that constitute organized retail theft: working with others to steal, tampering with anti-theft devices, staying in stores after hours to steal, using electronic devices to facilitate theft, and using stolen vehicles during theft

ENFORCEMENT

Sets felony penalties ranging from Class D (theft over $1,000 but under $5,000) to Class B (theft over $25,000) based on value of stolen property

Allows theft instances across multiple judicial districts to be aggregated and charged in any district where the theft occurred

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2025

Signed into law

Notification that SB300 is now Act 321

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned from the House as passed.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned to the Senate as passed.

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee Do Pass

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read the third time and passed.

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors