HB545 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Charles O. Newton
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Butler Co., sheriff authorized to sell certain abandoned, unclaimed, or stolen property, and firearms, notice, record keeping requirement, distribution of funds for law enforcement purposes
Summary: The bill lets Butler County sheriff auction or destroy abandoned, unclaimed, or stolen property (including firearms), require records and notices, and use sale proceeds for law enforcement.
What This Bill Does
It requires the Butler County Sheriff to keep permanent public records of abandoned or stolen property and to store it safely. For perishable items, if the owner cannot be found, the sheriff may sell them without notice and must first try to match the owner with proceeds, distributing funds after recovery and storage costs; unclaimed money after six months goes to the sheriff's office. It sets firearms handling rules (records, possible sale or destruction after six months if unclaimed) and requires sales only to licensed Alabama gun dealers via highest bid and cash, with proceeds going to the sheriff; non-firearm items are sold at public auctions after six months with published notice, and owners can claim items before sale by proving ownership and paying publication costs.

Who It Affects
Property owners or rightful owners of abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed items in Butler County; they may claim property before sale and may receive proceeds if the item is perishable and sold, minus costs.
Butler County Sheriff's Office and licensed gun dealers in Alabama; the sheriff must maintain records, conduct auctions, manage notices and sales (including firearm sales to licensed dealers), and ensure sale proceeds are used for law enforcement and audited.

Key Provisions
The sheriff must keep and publicly maintain permanent records of all abandoned and stolen property, including description, recovery date, and identifying numbers; records are open to public inspection.
Perishable abandoned or stolen property may be sold without notice if the owner cannot be located; proceeds are held for six months for the owner, minus recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale costs; if unclaimed, net funds go to the Sheriff of Butler County.
Permanent records for firearms must be kept with description, recovery date, and identifying numbers; firearms may be sold or destroyed if unclaimed after six months, subject to law.
Firearm sales are limited to Alabama gun dealers with at least one year of active licensing; notices are sent to dealers; sales are by highest sealed bid and cash; proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Office after expenses.
For non-firearm property, abandoned or stolen items unclaimed after six months are sold at public auction following published notice (newspaper and/or courthouse website with at least 20 days’ notice).
Owners may claim property before sale by providing proof of ownership and may be required to pay a pro rata share of publication costs.
Proceeds from sales are paid to the Sheriff’s Office and used solely for law enforcement purposes; receipts and expenditures are audited by the Examiners of Public Accounts.
The act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Butler County