SE Texas Times

State Representative Todd Hunter from District 32 has shed light on the staggering amount of unclaimed property held by the State of Texas, urging residents to take action to claim what is rightfully theirs. Hunter stated, "Texas is holding about $8 billion in cash and other valuables waiting for their rightful owners to claim." The Texas Comptroller's office estimates that one in four residents of the state may have unclaimed property.

Various types of unclaimed property are held by the state, including dividend, payroll, or cashier’s checks, stocks, bonds, mutual fund accounts, utility deposits, insurance proceeds, mineral interest, dormant bank accounts, and abandoned safe deposit box contents. The Comptroller's office acts as a custodian of the unclaimed property, holding it in trust until claimed, emphasizing that Texas does not take legal ownership of unclaimed property, meaning there is no time limit for filing a claim.

In fiscal year 2023, the Texas Comptroller's office paid a record $334 million in claims, bringing the total amount of unclaimed property returned to over $4 billion since the program's inception. To facilitate the claiming process, the Comptroller's office has introduced new features on their website to assist residents in identifying and claiming their unclaimed property.

Representative Todd Hunter encouraged Texas residents to proactively check if they are among those with unclaimed property by visiting the Texas Unclaimed Property website or calling 800-321-2274 (CASH). Hunter further assured constituents of his availability to address any questions or concerns, stating, "As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns, or comments."

Residents of Aransas County and Nueces (Part) County can reach out to Representative Todd Hunter at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or 512-463-0672 for further assistance or information regarding unclaimed property.

Overall, the call to action from Representative Todd Hunter serves as a reminder to Texans to take advantage of the resources available to claim their share of the billions in unclaimed property held by the state.