This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.522, to include gift card fraud as part of organized retail theft. It introduces new definitions for "closed-loop gift card," "gift card," and "open-loop gift card," clarifying the types of gift cards that fall under this legislation. Additionally, the bill specifies that tangible property includes gift cards and outlines the criteria for determining economic loss related to stolen gift cards. The amendments also expand the definition of organized retail theft to include actions such as tampering with stolen merchandise for the purpose of obtaining value from retailers or customers.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the existing language regarding organized retail theft, emphasizing the involvement of individuals associated with retail theft enterprises and their patterns of theft. It adds new provisions that criminalize the resale, advertisement, or tampering of stolen merchandise, thereby strengthening the legal framework against organized retail theft. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2026, applying to crimes committed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 609.522
1st Engrossment: 609.522