House Bill No. 1996 amends Section 1325 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which outlines the procedures for disposing of unclaimed property by sheriff's offices and campus police agencies. The bill updates the written notice requirements for hearings related to the disposition of personal property. Specifically, it stipulates that written notice must be sent to known owners by first-class mail at least ten days prior to the hearing, unless the property is held as inmate commissary and valued at less than $50, in which case notice is not required. Additionally, the bill clarifies that notice of the hearing must be posted in three public places or published in a legal newspaper, ensuring transparency in the process.

The bill also includes provisions for the destruction, donation, or transfer of personal property deemed unsuitable for public sale, and it establishes a process for the appropriation of personal property for use by the sheriff's office or campus police agency. The funds generated from the sale of such property will be deposited into a special fund, which can be used for crime prevention and law enforcement training. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.