HF5246 Summary

• Establishes a settlement framework for litigation related to state retention of tax-forfeited lands, sale proceeds, and mineral rights, with an agreement reached February 28, 2024

• Counties participating in the settlement must provide property tax records by August 1, 2024, and make good faith efforts to sell forfeited properties (with exceptions for conservation lands, rehabilitation properties, and state-held titles)

• Participating counties must remit 75 percent of sale proceeds through June 30, 2027, and 85 percent of proceeds from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2029 to the state general fund; remaining proceeds retained by counties

• Appropriates $109,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 to the commissioner of management and budget for claims administrator payments, available until June 30, 2026

• Counties not notifying the claims administrator by August 1, 2024 are deemed participating counties; nonparticipating counties retain all liability for pre-2024 property claims and may face state indemnification actions