HB 25-1224 Streamlines Claims Process for Municipalities
Sep. 3, 2025 (DENVER) — The Colorado Department of the Treasury is stepping up efforts to reunite municipalities with lost funds–a process made easier by the signing of HB 25-1224.
From forgotten state funding to old insurance payments, local governments of all sizes have money waiting to be claimed through The Great Colorado Payback. Thanks to new legislation, it’s easier than ever for civic entities to recover funds.
“It’s not just people who have missing money—cities and counties do too,” said Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young. “We’re holding unclaimed funds for hundreds of local governments, and we want to get those dollars back to where they belong: in the community, powering local services.”
From Big Cities to Tiny Towns
The Department of the Treasury maintains a searchable database with over 15 million unclaimed property listings totaling about $2 billion. Across the Centennial State, municipalities and counties—from Denver to Dillon, Aspen to Ault—have property waiting to be claimed.
"The unclaimed property process has improved substantially, and the Treasurer’s Office staff was instrumental in helping us navigate the process of claiming funds identified as belonging to the City,” said Trevor Vaughn, Manager of Licensing for the City of Aurora. “Their support made it easy for us to secure these funds, and in doing so, we’ve been able to demonstrate to our residents that we steward public resources in a timely and responsible manner."
In the last fiscal year alone, the Unclaimed Property Division returned more than $3,325,000 through 6,750 claims to municipalities across Colorado, including:
- Arapahoe County - $232,317
- Adams County - $377,037
- Boulder County - $161,247
- City & County of Denver - $1,674,659
- Pitkin County - $224,042
Streamlining the Claims Process
The Unclaimed Property Division has significantly streamlined the claims process for state agencies, proactively alerting departments upon validating unclaimed funds. The passage of HB25-1224 expands this practice to cities and counties, making it faster and easier to return funds to local governments. To complete the claims process, state agencies and local governments should respond promptly when contacted by the Unclaimed Property Division.
Officials can also search for unclaimed property at GreatCOPayback.com. Simply enter your municipality's name. If there's a match, email the Unclaimed Property Division at greatcopayback@state.co.us to work directly with the claims team.
Recouping community cash is easy, and it could help fund local projects, services, or operations. New funds are reported to the Division on a regular basis, so agency, city, and county officials should check the unclaimed property database annually for missing money.
For more information, visit GreatCOPayback.com.
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About the Colorado Department of the Treasury
The Colorado Department of the Treasury is the constitutional guardian of the public’s funds. It is the Treasury’s duty to manage and account for the taxpayers’ dollars from the time they are received until the time they are disbursed. The Treasury’s staff is committed to safeguarding and managing the people’s monies with the same diligence and care as they do their own. For more information, visit colorado.gov/treasury.
About the Great Colorado Payback
The Great Colorado Payback is responsible for reuniting Coloradans with lost or forgotten assets. As the state’s unclaimed property division, the Great Colorado Payback maintains a list of over 15 million names of individuals, businesses, and organizations for whom property is owed. Check for lost property at GreatCOPayback.com.