Governor Gavin Newsom took decisive action Friday, signing 10 new bills into law aimed at addressing the surge in retail, auto, and property theft across California. The legislation marks one of the most significant efforts in the state’s history to confront property crime, following increased public concern and criticism over rising theft rates.
“Let’s be clear: this is the most significant legislation to address property crime in modern California history,” Newsom said during a press conference. “I thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers, our retail partners, and advocates for putting public safety over politics. While some try to take us back to ineffective and costly policies of the past, these new laws present a better way forward — making our communities safer and providing meaningful tools to help law enforcement arrest criminals and hold them accountable.”
The newly signed bills include measures that target shoplifting, organized retail crime, and vehicle theft. They also strengthen sentencing enhancements and grant new authority to law enforcement to address these crimes more effectively. Key components of the legislation include:
- AB 2943: Targets shoplifting offenses.
- AB 3209: Addresses retail theft through stiffer penalties.
- AB 1779: Focuses on general theft prevention.
- AB 1802: Permanently establishes the California Highway Patrol property crimes task force.
- AB 1972: Expands the CHP’s task force to include cargo theft and railroad police.
- SB 905: Tackles vehicle theft.
- SB 1242: Imposes harsher penalties for arson linked to organized retail theft.
- SB 1416: Introduces sentencing enhancements for selling or exchanging stolen goods.
- SB 1144: Requires online marketplaces to collect data from high-volume third-party sellers, giving district attorneys enforcement power.
- SB 982: Removes the expiration date on prosecuting organized retail theft, enabling indefinite prosecution.
The legislation was passed in response to the rising incidence of organized retail crime, which has drawn both public and political attention. Critics have pointed to Proposition 47, a law passed a decade ago that reduced certain felonies to misdemeanors and set a $950 threshold for shoplifting charges, as a key driver behind the increase in theft. The new laws seek to address this gap without returning to what Newsom called “ineffective and costly policies of the past.”
As California’s political landscape debates how to best address crime, Proposition 36, a ballot measure backed by major retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target, could soon be on the table. This measure seeks to undo parts of Prop. 47 and crack down further on retail and drug crimes. Although Newsom and his allies have voiced opposition, labeling Prop. 36 as extreme, many local leaders, including the mayors of San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose, support the initiative.
The newly enacted laws represent a significant shift in California’s approach to crime prevention, with an emphasis on both accountability and collaboration between state agencies, retailers, and law enforcement. As California navigates this evolving debate, the impact of these measures will be closely watched.
