On Friday, Pilar Schiavo joined Governor Newsom for the signing of a package of bills tackling retail theft. 

“As a Principal Co-Author of AB 2943 and a member of the Select Committee on Retail Theft, we worked hard to incorporate the concerns and feedback from small businesses and our community to bring thoughtful solutions that give police more tools, reduce opportunity to sell stolen goods and address repeat offender loopholes in addition to continuing the proven successful work that prevents crime. Our community has spoken loudly about the impact of retail theft, and AB 2943 is a direct response to those concerns,” said Assemblywoman Schiavo. “This bill is a significant step forward in protecting our local businesses, ensuring public safety, and addressing the challenges posed by organized retail crime.”

Schiavo is the co-author of the California Retail Reduction Act (AB 2943), one of the 10 bills signed by the Governor on Friday. 

This key legislation is a cornerstone of a pivotal bipartisan legislative package of bills aimed at curbing retail crime across California. 

“This package is going to be instrumental in curbing organized retail theft in California. This package of bills came from retailers. I came to leadership, I said here is what we need to help us curtail this happening in our stores. And they listened and we worked together…this has become a national model and I get calls from around the country about what we’re doing in California,” said Rachel Michelin, President of the California Retailers Association at the bill signing press conference. “Across the board this is the most comprehensive package of bills we have ever seen. And it addresses multiple issues that we have had concerns about.”

AB 2943 specifically targets organized crime rings responsible for a growing wave of “smash and grab” retail thefts. 

The bill introduces strong penalties for professional thieves, implements measures to curb the online sale of stolen goods and includes provisions for aggregating theft values, increasing multiple smaller thefts to the level of a felony to meet grand theft criteria for prosecution. 

 This comprehensive approach is designed to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat retail crime effectively and protect local businesses.

“California’s hard-working business owners asked for our help, and today we are delivering thoughtful, balanced new laws that will protect their livelihoods, workers and customers. To those who brazenly harass and shoplift from our stores: Accountability is here,” said Speaker Robert Rivas. “I’m deeply proud of my colleagues for taking on this crucial public-safety issue, and I thank Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo for her leadership on the Retail Theft Select Committee and co-authoring California Retail Theft Reduction Act, AB 2943. In California, we keep each other safe and get the job done.”

Following her appointment to the Retail Theft Select Committee by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Assemblywoman Schiavo has helped lead the state’s work to address the escalation of retail theft and continues to work with local businesses and law enforcement to ensure our community and small businesses are protected and safe.

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