Committee advances bill to streamline return of unclaimed property, add emails and small‑estate claim process

The House Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee voted to favorably recommend Senate Bill 155, a measure to make it easier for the state to return unclaimed property (mostly money) to rightful owners. Senator Weiler presented the bill as a technical but important update to improve owner outreach and claims processing.

Mister Oakes, speaking for the Treasurer's office, explained three main components: adding email addresses to data received from the Tax Commission to facilitate electronic outreach and payments; allowing the unclaimed-property division to distribute money to one or more heirs under a small-estate affidavit while requiring those claimants to sign an acknowledgement and indemnify the state; and updating references to the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (RUPA) so state law follows changes to the IRS required minimum distribution age rather than fixing a single age in statute.

Committee members asked procedural questions, including whether required minimum distributions must be taken each year for decedents; the Treasurer's office replied they do not believe so. No public testimony was recorded. Representative Provo moved to pass the second substitute with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved by voice vote and later placed the bill on the consent calendar. Treasurer's staff encouraged members to share mycash.utah.gov as a resource for constituents searching for unclaimed funds.