# Georgia SB 403: Unclaimed Property; property is presumed abandoned; provide for exceptions

Georgia SB 403, Unclaimed Property; property is presumed abandoned; provide for exceptions, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican) and 28 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB403-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 403
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Unclaimed Property; property is presumed abandoned; provide for exceptions
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Marty Harbin (Republican), Ed Harbison (Democrat), Sally Harrell (Democrat), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Nan Orrock (Democrat), Elena Parent (Democrat), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, Finance, General Bill
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (286 yes, 20 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More notices for unclaimed property owners: benefit, low. Businesses holding unclaimed property must notify owners by first-class mail. They must also email owners when they have a valid email address and the owner agreed to electronic communications. For property worth more than $10,000, the mailed notice must use certified mail.
- Property owners get recovery-contract waiting period: benefit, low. The law sets a waiting period for unclaimed-property purchase and recovery agreements made on or after July 1, 2026. Covered agreements cannot be enforced for 120 days after the property is paid or delivered to Georgia's revenue commissioner. The agreement must be reported and the property delivere…
- Stock owners may get public notices later: cost, low. Georgia's revenue commissioner may delay public notices for certain reported business interests, such as stocks and shares. The commissioner may wait until the state receives the property. Owners may therefore learn about their unclaimed holdings later.
- Easier payouts, but tax debts come first: mixed, medium. Georgia may pay cash without a claim, up to $500 per property, to an individual whose identity is verified. The person must be the sole owner; payment is not guaranteed. These payments use electronic transfer or check and follow the owner's latest Georgia tax refund instructions, if any. Approved c…
- Heirs can claim small estates without probate: mixed, medium. A surviving spouse, child, parent, or sibling age 18 or older can claim a deceased owner's property without a probate-court order. Georgia must hold no more than $7,500 total for that owner. No Georgia probate case can be pending or previously filed. All heirs must sign a sworn statement agreeing o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lee Anderson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Matt Brass (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Max Burns (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Marty Harbin (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Harbison (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Sally Harrell (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Mike Hodges (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Nan Orrock (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Elena Parent (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Payne (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Setzler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matt Reeves (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE | pass | 49 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-03-27 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 158 | 0 | 7 |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | MOTION TO ENGROSS: SB 403, HB 414 | pass | 29 | 20 | 3 |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 50 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-05: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-05: Act 410
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-27: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-05: Senate Engrossed (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 403/AP* (v9): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248669)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [SB 403/AP* (v9) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248669)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB403-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).