California enacts new laws to combat retail, property theft
California Governor Gavin Newsom.
‘California’s new laws tackle today’s biggest emerging challenges head-on’ says Newsom
– California is introducing new laws in 2025 aimed at addressing retail theft, property crime, and related offenses. The legislative package, described as the most comprehensive of its kind in modern state history, was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and provides law enforcement and prosecutors with new tools to hold offenders accountable and protect businesses.
“California’s new laws tackle today’s biggest emerging challenges head-on. Through partnership with the Legislature, we’re strengthening public safety, building more housing, and providing more resources for our communities,” Newsom said.
Among the key measures is Assembly Bill 2943 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, which allows the aggregation of stolen property values across different victims or counties to meet the felony grand theft threshold of $950. The law also doubles the probation period for shoplifting and petty theft from one year to two years and permits rehabilitative program referrals for defendants under 25.
Senate Bill 905 by Senator Scott Wiener allows the aggregation of property stolen from vehicles across multiple incidents, enabling prosecution for automotive property theft intended for resale. Senate Bill 1416 by Senator Josh Newman introduces sentencing enhancements for large-scale resale of stolen property, while Assembly Bill 1802 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer eliminates the sunset date for organized retail theft laws and the regional property crimes task force.
Additional measures include Assembly Bill 3209 by Assemblymember Marc Berman, which allows courts to issue retail theft restraining orders prohibiting individuals convicted of theft or related crimes from entering affected establishments for up to two years. Assembly Bill 1960 by Speaker Robert Rivas establishes mandatory sentencing enhancements for property damage exceeding $50,000 during felonies, and Senate Bill 1242 by Senator Dave Min introduces higher penalties for those who set fires to facilitate organized retail theft.
Online marketplaces also face new regulations under Senate Bill 1144 by Senator Nancy Skinner, requiring platforms to collect information about high-volume third-party sellers to combat the fencing of stolen goods.
Assembly Bill 1779 by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin permits the consolidation of theft charges and related offenses across different counties into a single criminal case. Assembly Bill 2943 extends, until Jan. 1, 2031, a law preventing organized retail theft suspects from being released with only a promise to appear in court.
These laws aim to enhance public safety by closing legal loopholes, maintaining enforcement programs, and increasing penalties for organized crimes, including smash-and-grab robberies and car break-ins. Businesses are further protected by provisions ensuring they are not fined for repeatedly reporting retail theft.
