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HB 1670 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Organized retail crime penalties

AI-generated

relative to organized retail crime.

Establishes criminal offenses for organized retail crime and for serving as the leader or kingpin of an organized retail crime enterprise.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes criminal offenses for organized retail crime and being the kingpin or leader of an organized retail crime enterprise.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“For purposes of this section, thefts may be aggregated over an 180-day period to determine value thresholds.”
RSA 637:10-c
“"Organized retail crime enterprise" means 2 or more persons associated in fact, although not a legal entity, who collaborate in whole or in part to commit organized retail crime under RSA 637:10-c.”
RSA 637:10-e
“Prosecutions may be brought in any county where any part of the enterprise activity occurred.”
RSA 637:10-c
“"Leader" means any person who knowingly organizes, directs, finances, manages, supervises, or otherwise controls, or conspires to organize, direct, finance, manage, supervise, or otherwise control, an organized retail crime enterprise, and who derives pecuniary benefit from the enterprise or from the disposition of stolen retail merchandise.”
RSA 637:10-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Susan DeRoyRPrime
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Glenn BaileyR, Rep. Thomas KaczynskiR, Rep. Rich NalevankoR, Rep. David WalkerR, Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Diane KelleyR

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

63% support38% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I Oppose HB 1670 because I am concerned it could lead to over-criminalization, broaden felony exposure without addressing root causes of theft, and strain courts and corrections without shown benefits.”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketopposes
“Testimony on HB 1670: Organized Retail Crime I strongly oppose HB 1670, as it represents a troubling shift toward overcriminalization that disproportionately targets marginalized communities while failing to address the root causes of retail crime.…”
— georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Refer for Interim Study11–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:16:15–3:17:231m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 30
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  3. Jan 23, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/23/2026 12:00 pm GP 159
  4. Jan 23, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 01/23/2026 (Vote 11-0; CC) HC 10 P. 11
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 16

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.