Relating to the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed property seized by a peace officer.
Bill overview
Relating to the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed property seized by a peace officer.
Reference notes
HB 1261 sources, status methodology and verification
Sources
- HB 1261 official legislative recordPrimary bill-status record.
- Current official bill textOfficial bill text or printing.
Methodology
KeepTXRed treats the official legislative record and latest official action as the factual status layer for HB 1261. Status labels are normalized for browsing, while the legislative timeline and documents preserve official action text and source links. Any KeepTXRed explanation below is editorial context and remains separate from the official record.
Last verified
Legislative record synchronized August 27, 2026 at 10:25 PM UTC; latest recorded official action May 29, 2025.
Bill → law → agency context
This relationship layer distinguishes what the normalized official record can prove from what it cannot. Enactment and effective dates come from the bill record. Agency names below are shown only when an official fiscal document supplies a verified agency reference; being cited in a fiscal note does not by itself prove that the agency administers the resulting law.
Bill → law status
HB 1261 is recorded as enacted
- Current status
- Effective
- Signed
- May 29, 2025
- Effective
- September 1, 2025
Official fiscal-note agency context
No verified agency references are available from the latest parsed official fiscal material. KeepTXRed does not infer an administering agency from the bill topic or title.
KeepTXRed explanation
This reviewed explanation is separate from the official bill record and is provided for general information, not legal advice.
KeepTXRed summary
HB 1261 gives Texas law-enforcement agencies more flexible ways to notify the public and owners before disposing of abandoned or unclaimed property seized by a peace officer.
What would change
For qualifying unclaimed property, the responsible county or municipal official may use specified law-enforcement website and social-media notices as alternatives to some certified-mail or newspaper publication requirements. Property worth at least $500 still requires advance public notice before sale, but the statute permits the specified online notice method.
Who may be affected
People claiming seized property, peace officers, sheriffs, county purchasing agents, municipalities, counties, and buyers at government property sales.
When it would take effect
The Act took effect September 1, 2025 and applies prospectively under the Act's transition provision.
Limits and uncertainty
The law applies to abandoned or unclaimed property that is not contraband subject to forfeiture, not being held as evidence, and has not been ordered destroyed or returned. It does not allow agencies to dispose of property that is still needed in a pending case.
Editorial sources and review notes
Final enrolled text and official TLO analysis reviewed.
Editorial explanation reviewed 9/5/2026.
Current status
Effective
Effective on 9/1/25
Latest official action
Effective on 9/1/25
May 29, 2025 · house
Who this bill may affect
A verified audience or subject classification has not been attached to this bill yet.
Use the bill overview and official documents to determine whether the proposal may apply to you, your business, or a public agency.
Sponsors
Committee history
- Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Out of committee
- Criminal Justice
Out of committee
Legislative timeline
Effective on 9/1/25
house · effective
Official recordSigned by the Governor
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Official recordRead 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
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Official recordRules suspended-Regular order of business
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Official recordCo-sponsor authorized
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Official recordPlaced on intent calendar
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Official recordCommittee report printed and distributed
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Official recordReferred to Criminal Justice
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Official recordPassed to engrossment
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Official recordPlaced on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
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Official recordConsidered in Local & Consent Calendars
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Official recordReturned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm.
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Official recordWithdrawn from calendar (contested)
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Official recordConsidered in Local & Consent Calendars
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Official recordComm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
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Official recordCommittee report distributed
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Official recordComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
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Official recordReported favorably w/o amendment(s)
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Official recordRecommended to be sent to Local & Consent
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Official recordConsidered in public hearing
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Official recordLeft pending in committee
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Official recordTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
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Official recordConsidered in public hearing
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Official recordScheduled for public hearing on . . .
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Official recordReferred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
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Official recordRead first time
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Official recordFiled
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Official record
Official bill text
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Related articles
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Related content
Ranked by official relationships such as sponsorship, committee referral, district, election, session, and direct news coverage.
Representative: charles cunningham
author
Representative: pete flores
sponsor
Representative: sarah eckhardt
cosponsor
District: texas house district 127
sponsor district
District: texas senate district 14
sponsor district
District: texas senate district 24
sponsor district