Organized Retail Crime (ORC) continues to pose a serious threat to Oklahoma’s retailers—large and small alike. These are not petty thefts, but coordinated criminal operations that cost businesses millions and endanger workers and customers alike.

The Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association (ORMA) has been at the forefront of addressing this growing problem. In recent years, ORMA helped champion the passage of the Oklahoma INFORM Act, which created new safeguards against the online resale of stolen goods by requiring online marketplaces to verify and disclose the identities of high-volume third-party sellers.

In 2023, the state established the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force. This task force marked a critical step toward building a coordinated response between retailers, law enforcement, and policymakers. ORMA was statutorily empowered to appoint one of the task force members, subsequently ORMA’s designee has served as the chairman of Oklahoma’s ORC Task force and led the charge to coordinate and attack our retail crime challenges.

But our work is far from over. ORMA continues to prioritize expanding and strengthening this task force, supporting new legislation to enhance penalties for organized retail crime and secure permanent resources for investigation and enforcement.

We are committed to ensuring Oklahoma remains a safe and secure place to do business—and that criminal enterprises targeting retailers are met with strong, effective deterrents.

Pharmacies are a vital part of Oklahoma’s retail and healthcare landscape. ORMA supports smart, forward-looking reforms that strengthen pharmacy access, affordability, and sustainability across the state.

We advocate for policies that protect access to affordable prescription medications, promote rural healthcare access, and grow Oklahoma’s pharmacy workforce to meet long-term demand.

Whether addressing workforce shortages, reimbursement challenges, or regulatory burdens, ORMA remains committed to building a pharmacy environment that supports both retail operations and community health.

One of ORMA’s top priorities is advancing common-sense reform to address excessive swipe fees charged to retailers on credit and debit card transactions. These fees—especially when applied to non-revenue items like sales tax, tips, and charitable donations—place an unnecessary burden on businesses and inflate costs for consumers at the register.

We are working to protect Oklahoma merchants from paying fees on money they never keep. Reforming swipe fee policies is critical to improving fairness, increasing transparency in transaction costs, and helping retailers keep prices competitive.

ORMA continues to advocate for legislation that reins in abusive swipe fee practices and ensures that the cost of doing business in Oklahoma remains reasonable for retailers and the customers they serve.

ORMA supports continued efforts to modernize Oklahoma’s alcohol laws in a way that reflects the realities of today’s retail and hospitality industries. From improving delivery and curbside options to updating outdated licensing requirements, our goal is to create a regulatory environment that works for businesses and consumers alike.

We advocate for policies that expand legal delivery of alcoholic beverages under clear, responsible guidelines, ensure fairness in licensing and compliance, and protect the ability of retailers to meet consumer demand safely and efficiently.

Alcohol policy in Oklahoma has evolved significantly in recent years—but more work remains. ORMA is committed to advancing thoughtful reforms that support competition, streamline regulations, and reflect the needs of a modern retail economy.

ORMA supports responsible tort reform that protects Oklahoma retailers from excessive litigation and unfair liability exposure. Retailers—whether large chains or independent storefronts—face growing legal risks from slip-and-fall claims, nuisance lawsuits, and costly liability disputes that often have little to do with actual negligence.

Our goal is to promote a balanced legal environment that ensures access to justice while discouraging opportunistic or abusive lawsuits that drive up insurance costs, increase prices for consumers, and place unnecessary strain on businesses.

We advocate for clear, predictable legal standards that protect both retailers and their customers. As part of our broader mission to improve Oklahoma’s business climate, ORMA will continue to support legislative efforts that provide stability and fairness in the civil justice system.

ORMA supports reasonable data privacy policies that protect consumers while recognizing the practical realities and limitations faced by retailers. As cyber threats and data breaches continue to rise nationwide, it’s more important than ever to pursue smart, targeted solutions that hold bad actors accountable—not the businesses that are victimized by them.

We oppose punitive approaches that place the burden of criminal activity on retailers, particularly small and mid-sized businesses that may lack the resources of large corporations. Instead, ORMA advocates for balanced data privacy legislation that focuses on prevention, education, and accountability for the individuals or entities committing the offenses.

Oklahoma retailers are committed to protecting their customers' data and complying with evolving security standards. Our goal is to ensure that any new policies enhance consumer confidence without creating excessive liability or unreasonable compliance costs for legitimate businesses.