California Democrats disclosed provisions in a bill Thursday that would crack down on the state’s retail theft problem after lawmakers announced a legislative plan last month to combat the issue.

With promises from Gov. Gavin Newsom to get tougher on crime, the legislation is the state’s latest attempt to remedy concern over its spikes in retail theft. Both Newsom and the state Senate have reportedly put together packages of bills that help tackle the problem while ensuring that new legislation does not touch Proposition 47, a 2014 measure categorizing nonviolent property crime that does not exceed $950 in value as a misdemeanor. 

“Building on California’s existing laws and record public safety investments, I’m calling for new legislation to expand criminal penalties for those profiting on retail theft and auto burglaries,” Newsom said in a statement last month after introducing the package of bills. “These laws will make California safer and bolster police and prosecutor tools to arrest and hold professional criminals accountable.”

Assembly Bill 2943 includes a provision imposing a criminal penalty of up to three years for individuals found in possession of stolen property with intent to resell it. It would also require online sellers to keep records of legal custody for items they are selling.

If a person commits theft from more than one victim, the value of the stolen items from each victim can be used to meet the $950 minimum value for theft to be considered a felony, according to the bill. Additionally, the legislation would expand police power, giving law enforcement the ability to hold repeat offenders in custody. 

Still, the new measure doesn’t touch Prop 47, which doesn’t sit well with law enforcement, Republicans, and some residents who have been putting pressure on the progressive state lawmakers to solve the theft problem. 

 “I do not believe that this state needs to touch Prop. 47 to be able to help make our communities safer, full stop,” Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said at a press conference in February.

Assemblyman Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) told the Sacramento Bee that it was imperative the new proposal be enacted now and that, while he looked forward to seeing Proposition 47 get reformed, that would be up to voters, but noted that the AB 2943 was a good start. 

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California Highway Patrol has made 1,301 arrests and found $10 million in stolen goods, according to new optimistic data from CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force released in January.  

Turning toward stricter crime laws has become popular in liberal states like California, where businesses have been packing up and leaving due to surges in violent crime, smash-and-grabs, and homelessness. Now under a national spotlight, combined with internal pressure from voters, Republicans, and centrist Democrats, progressive lawmakers are scrambling to pass tough-on-crime legislation to stop the issue in its tracks.