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WashingtonHB 17312025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Regarding unclaimed property held by a museum or historical society.

Sponsored By: Kevin Waters (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New notice deadlines for museum property

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington museums and historical societies follow new notice rules for abandoned property or ended loans. They must first send certified mail, with a return receipt requested, to the owner's last recorded address. With no address or no written receipt proof within 30 days of mailing, they must give notice weekly for three consecutive weeks. Options include official websites, organizational email, official social media, public postings at their main location, and documented phone-call attempts. Other electronic methods reasonably expected to reach owners or interested parties are also allowed. Notices must describe the property, name the owner and last known address, and request information about the owner's whereabouts. The claim rules give owners 90 days after the third notice to assert ownership in writing before the institution takes ownership. A separate notice-content rule refers to 90 days after the second notice, creating a timing conflict in the supplied descriptions. These deadlines cover unclaimed property held outside a loan for at least five years and loaned property after termination or expiration. For county-location rules, loans made through a branch count as located in that branch's county; otherwise, the institution's main office determines the county.

Public claims before museums take undocumented property

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington museums and historical societies must post public notices for property with an unknown donor. This covers collection items without donor records and abandoned items left without the donor's identity. They must post on a publicly accessible official website page or in a public space at their main location. The notice must describe the property, request ownership information, give contact details, and explain the 90-day deadline. Anyone claiming ownership must provide written proof. If no claim or information establishing ownership arrives within 90 days after the notice, the property counts as donated. It then belongs to the museum or historical society.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kevin Waters

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/5/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/12/2025House

  2. Chapter 242, 2025 Laws.

    5/12/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/12/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/25/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/24/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/23/2025legislature

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

    4/22/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/22/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/15/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/15/2025House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/15/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/9/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/24/2025House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/20/2025House

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

    3/20/2025House

  16. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    3/7/2025House

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/5/2025House

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/5/2025House

  19. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/28/2025House

  20. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/18/2025House

  21. CRJ - Majority; do pass.

    2/14/2025House

  22. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/14/2025House

  23. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

    1/30/2025House

  24. Introduced

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

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