AB 2335: Unclaimed property: digital financial assets.
The bill creates a digital asset reserve fund where digital financial assets will be deposited. The state controller will convert escheated digital assets into high-quality digital assets after a specified holding period, not sooner than 18 months or later than 20 months. A person who makes a valid claim before the conversion can receive the digital assets in their native form or fiat currency. The controller is authorized to use the fund's assets to pay for administration and management. A quarterly report will be published by the controller. A digital asset reserve board will be assigned tasks related to the fund's administration.
| Aug. 13, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Aug. 03, 2026 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30). |
| Jun. 22, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 22, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly May 18, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 22, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 26, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Valencia |
February 19, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the legislature to clarify that digital financial assets are intangible property that are subject to the Unclaimed Property Law.SEC. 2.
Section 1501 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:1501.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:SEC. 3.
Section 1516.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:1516.5.
(a) Pursuant to Section 1510, any digital financial asset held or owing by a business association escheats to the state if unclaimed by the owner for more than three years from either of the following:SEC. 4.
Section 1532 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:1532.
(a) Every person filing a report as provided by Section 1530 shall, no sooner than seven months and no later than seven months and 15 days after the final date for filing the report, pay or deliver to the Controller all escheated property specified in the report. Any payment of unclaimed cash in an amount of at least two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be made by electronic funds transfer pursuant to regulations adopted by the Controller. The Controller may postpone the date for payment or delivery of the property, and the date for any report required by subdivision (b), upon the Controller’s own motion or upon written request by any person required to pay or deliver the property or file a report as required by this section.SEC. 5.
Section 1563 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:1563.
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), all escheated property delivered to the Controller under this chapter shall be sold by the Controller to the highest bidder at public sale in whatever city in the state affords in the Controller’s judgment the most favorable market for the property involved, or the Controller may conduct the sale by electronic media, including, but not limited to, the internet, if in the Controller’s judgment it is cost effective to conduct the sale of the property involved in that manner. However, no sale shall be made pursuant to this subdivision until 18 months after the final date for filing the report required by Section 1530. The Controller may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if the Controller considers the price bid insufficient. The Controller need not offer any property for sale if, in the Controller’s opinion, the probable cost of sale exceeds the value of the property. Any sale of escheated property held under this section shall be preceded by a single publication of notice thereof, at least one week in advance of sale, in an English language newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is to be sold.SEC. 6.
Section 1563.5 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1563.5.
(a) A governing board, the Digital Asset Reserve Fund Board, shall be established. The Digital Asset Reserve Fund Board shall:SEC. 7.
Section 1564.6 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1564.6.
(a) The Digital Asset Claims Reserve Account and the Digital Asset Reserve Fund are hereby established within the State Controller.