PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 17312025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Regarding unclaimed property held by a museum or historical society.

Sponsored By: Kevin Waters (Republican)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Loaned items may be treated as donations

Beginning July 27, 2025, when a loan ends and no one claims the item, it is deemed donated after the required notices and a 90-day window with no written claim. Museums can end loans with no set end date once they have held the item for five years. Permanent loans count as indefinite loans. Owners must tell the museum in writing about any address or ownership change. When a museum accepts a loan, it must give the owner a written summary of these rules.

New notice rules for museum-held items

Beginning July 27, 2025, museums must try certified mail to the last known owner. If they have no address, or no proof of receipt within 30 days, they must post notices once a week for three weeks. They can use their website, email lists, official social media, a posted sign at the museum, phone calls, or other electronic messages. Each notice must describe the item, name the owner and last known address, and ask for information. It must also say the museum may take ownership if no written claim arrives within 90 days of the second notice.

Process for items with unknown donors

Beginning July 27, 2025, if a museum finds an item with no donor records, it must post a notice. The notice goes on the museum’s website or on a public sign at the museum. It must describe the item, give contact email and address, and ask for written proof of ownership. If no one responds within 90 days, the item is treated as donated and becomes the museum’s property.

Unclaimed items can become museum property

Beginning July 27, 2025, property left with a museum for five years or more, and not under a current loan, is treated as abandoned. The museum must first give the required notices. If no written ownership claim is filed within 90 days after the notices, the museum gets title to the item free of owner claims. Anyone who buys the item from the museum gets good title.

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

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation