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Pennsylvania bill raises State Treasurer's direct payout limit for abandoned property from $500 to $5,000

Original title: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in disposition of abandoned and unclaimed property, further providing for claim for property paid or delivered.

Last action · February 4, 2025: Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Feb. 4, 2025Sponsors: Marla Brown and 6 others

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Pennsylvania House Bill 488 permits the State Treasurer to directly pay out or deliver unclaimed property or property sale proceeds valued under $5,000—increased from the previous $500 cap—to a person identified as the sole owner in a holder's report, regardless of whether a formal claim is filed. The measure takes effect in 60 days.

Why it matters

Residents seeking the return of smaller amounts of unclaimed property valued between $500 and $4,999 may receive payouts directly from the State Treasurer without filing a formal claim, provided a report identifies them as the sole owner.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Owners of unclaimed property

Individuals who are sole owners of unclaimed property valued between $500 and $5,000 may receive payouts directly from the State Treasurer without filing a formal claim.

Directly affected

State Treasurer

The State Treasurer is authorized to directly disburse unclaimed property and proceeds up to $5,000 based on reporting.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need to file a formal claim to get property valued under $5,000?
No, the State Treasurer may pay or deliver the property if a report filed under section 1301.11 identifies you as the sole owner, regardless of whether a formal claim is filed under subsection (a).

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

1 action
  1. Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Feb. 4, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Connected Entities

Commonwealth, State Treasurer, The Fiscal Code
locationCommonwealth“Receives or holds abandoned and unclaimed property”Map →
OrganizationState Treasurer“Authorized to pay or deliver unclaimed property to owners”Map →
otherThe Fiscal Code“The act being amended”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.palegis.us

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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