Sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 243 described a proposal to use Bureau of Motor Vehicles transactions to alert Ohioans if the state is holding unclaimed funds in their name and supply information on how to file a claim.

Senator Weinstein, offering sponsor testimony, said the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds holds nearly $5 billion in unclaimed funds from sources such as forgotten utility deposits, uncashed checks, dormant bank accounts and unpaid insurance benefits. He said SB 243 would require the BMV to check the unclaimed funds database during customer interactions and offer information or assistance about filing claims; the bill authorizes the registrar of motor vehicles to adopt rules for how that process would operate.

Senator Lang and other senators raised questions about potential costs or burdens for deputy registrars and whether the budget includes appropriations to Commerce to support outreach and materials. Senator Weinstein said the bill's language is intended to be flexible — for example, the BMV could display a poster or QR code directing customers to the state website — and that the appropriation already included in the budget for Commerce’s outreach could be used for materials if Commerce agrees. Senator Lang recalled an allocation in the budget of about $2 million to Commerce for marketing, and the sponsor said he has reached out to Commerce to discuss coordination, though those discussions were not yet complete.

Committee members also noted that returning funds can be straightforward for some claimants but complex for others because of probate or estate issues, and they asked whether companion legislation or administrative help could ease claims under a certain dollar threshold. Senator Weinstein said he expects discussion with Commerce and registrars about the least invasive way to integrate the check into BMV workflows and about potential online options such as adding a link to the BMV website.

The bill received a first hearing; no committee vote was recorded during the session.