SB 1300 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the criminal offense of organized retail theft; increasing criminal penalties.

SB 1300 defines "organized retail theft" as stealing from a merchant through coordinated actions (e.g., acting in concert with others), multiple incidents within 180 days, or benefiting from such theft. It changes how stolen item value is calculated for sentencing by using the merchant's posted sales price (including tax) instead of market value, and makes it easier for prosecutors to prove cases by allowing indictments to reference merchants and aggregate value ranges rather than listing each item. The bill also establishes price tags as evidence of both value and merchant ownership, streamlining prosecutions. This law directly affects Texas retailers and individuals convicted of organized retail theft, with increased penalties for the offense.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas criminal laws related to organized retail theft, including new definitions, evidence rules, and penalty structures. The changes clarify how value is calculated for theft cases and adjust criminal penalties based on the value of stolen property.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of organized retail theft offenses by adding new provisions for evidence admissibility and modifying penalty classifications based on property value thresholds.
DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'retail merchandise' and 'merchant' to clarify what items and businesses are covered under the law.

REQUIREMENT

Modified indictment requirements to allow prosecution without listing every stolen item, requiring only the merchant name and value range.

Changed how property value is calculated, establishing specific pricing methods and presumptions for determining theft value.

ENFORCEMENT

Added presumptions that alter or remove labels/tags constitutes intent to deprive merchants of property.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for these changes to September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House May 28, 2025

How they voted

272
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Mar 24, 2025
D Democratic10
7 Yea 2 Nay 1
70% Yea
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
54
Key actions
15
Committee
9
Amendments
6
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
lower
May 30, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
upper
May 30, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed as amended
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 28, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (109-30-7)
house
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
8 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors