HB 2161 Summary

• Museums may acquire legal title to undocumented property held for 7+ years with no valid claims by publishing two notices 90 days apart in a county newspaper.

• Museums may acquire legal title to loaned property if 2+ years have passed since last written contact with the lender, using certified mail and newspaper notice procedures.

• Museums may apply conservation measures to loaned or undocumented property without lender permission if immediate action is needed to protect the property or prevent hazards, with liability protections if reasonable care is exercised.

• Legal actions against museums to recover property or claim damages are limited to 2 years from notice or from the date of last written contact, with a lender's failure to file within this period constituting a donation.

• Loaned property that would otherwise escheat to the state upon the owner's death automatically becomes museum property, effective November 1, 2025.