HB522 Summary

• Washington County Sheriff shall maintain permanent records of all abandoned and stolen personal property recovered, including descriptions, recovery dates, serial numbers, and recovery locations, open to public inspection.

• Owners may claim abandoned or stolen property anytime before sale by proving ownership and paying recovery, maintenance, storage, and pro rata publication costs.

• Sheriff may sell unclaimed personal property (excluding firearms) at public or internet auction after six months; perishable property may be sold immediately without notice, with proceeds held for six months before going to the Sheriff's Fund.

• Sheriff may sell abandoned or stolen firearms only to federally licensed gun dealers via sealed bid auction, or may destroy unclaimed firearms after six months; proceeds go to the Sheriff's Fund for law enforcement purposes.

• Act becomes effective October 1, 2025.