The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 34-44 of the General Laws, titled "Abandoned Property." It introduces a requirement for towns and cities to publish and annually update a list of potentially abandoned properties, available at the town or city clerk's office and on the municipal website by April 2, 2025. The last known record owners must be notified by first-class mail if their property is included on the list. The bill clarifies that this publication does not permit legal claims against the municipality by the record owner or any interested parties. It also revises sections 34-44-3, 34-44-4, and 34-44-12, changing the legal process for addressing abandoned properties. This includes allowing a municipal corporation, neighboring landowner, or a registered nonprofit organization to file a petition for abatement of building code violations or unsafe conditions, modifying the summons service and hearing process, and detailing the appointment of a receiver to abate public nuisances with the ability to place a lien on the property.

Additionally, the bill updates the law on the rehabilitation and sale of abandoned properties. It specifies that a court-appointed receiver must be a lawyer and certified to act in this capacity. The bill outlines the conditions for court-granted access to the property for rehabilitation planning and removes the option for financial institutions, nonprofit corporations, or qualified property managers to be appointed as receivers. It details the sale process by a receiver, prioritizing sales to parties offering low- and moderate-income housing or community benefits, and specifies the distribution order of sale proceeds and the termination of receivership. The bill also addresses the sale of property if receivership costs are unpaid within three days after abatement. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with insertions to clarify legal language and deletions of redundant text.