HB 1731 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Regarding unclaimed property held by a museum or historical society.

HB 1731 updates how Washington state museums and historical societies manage unclaimed property and items on loan. It revises the notification process for property owners, requiring an initial certified mail attempt followed by public notice using digital methods like websites or social media, or physical postings, for three consecutive weeks. The bill also establishes a new procedure for property found without donor documentation, requiring public notice on the museum's website or physical premises. If no claim of ownership is made within 90 days after the final required notice, the property's title transfers to the museum or historical society.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill expanded its scope to include amendments to four specific sections of the unclaimed property law, rather than just one. It updated the timeline for claiming property from 90 days to 90 days (removing a previous 30-day window for initial notice receipt) and changed the notice publication requirement from two weeks to three weeks. The bill also added new rules for terminating indefinite loans and clarified that title vests in the museum after the third notice if no claim is made.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from amending only RCW 63.26.040 to amending RCW 63.26.020, 63.26.030, 63.26.040, and 63.26.050, covering abandoned property, loan agreements, and title vesting.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for museums to publish notice of abandoned property was changed from 'two consecutive weeks' to 'three consecutive weeks'.

New provisions were added allowing museums to terminate indefinite loans after five years and requiring museums to inform owners of their rights when accepting a loan.

TIMELINE

The deadline for owners to respond to notice was adjusted; the text now consistently specifies a 90-day window for claims after the third notice, removing previous references to a 30-day window for receipt proof.

ELIGIBILITY

The criteria for property to be deemed abandoned were clarified to specifically require the completion of the third notice period before title vests in the museum.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

50–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Apr 15, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (50-0-1)

senate

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

CRJ - Majority; do pass.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors