SB305 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve LivingstonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Jackson Co., firearms, sheriff authorize to sell abandoned or stolen firearms to highest bidder under certain conditions, Sec. 45-36-231.02 am'd.
Summary: SB305 lets the Jackson County sheriff sell abandoned or stolen firearms to the highest legally eligible bidder (licensed Alabama gun dealers) under specific rules, with proceeds funding law enforcement.
What This Bill Does
If firearms are not claimed within six months, the sheriff may sell or destroy them. Sales are limited to Alabama-licensed gun dealers (who must have at least one year of active license) and must be conducted by highest sealed bid for cash. Buyers must pass a background check and be legally allowed to buy a firearm in Alabama; if not, the item is re-auctioned and the bidder is refunded. Proceeds go to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement purposes, and the sheriff may destroy firearms as needed. The law also clarifies records and handling for firearms held before August 1, 2012, and requires an effective date set after legislative approval.

Who It Affects
Licensed Alabama gun dealers: can bid on and purchase abandoned or stolen firearms from Jackson County under a sealed-bid, cash sale process and must meet background check requirements.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the local community: manages records, determines sale or destruction of firearms, receives sale proceeds for law enforcement uses, and stores firearms per the new rules.

Key Provisions
Sheriff must maintain a permanent record of all abandoned or stolen firearms with description, recovery date, and identifying numbers; firearm definition aligned with Section 13A-8-1.
If not claimed within six months, the sheriff may sell or destroy the firearms.
Sales limited to gun dealers with at least one year of active state business license; dealer notified of sale; highest sealed bid wins; sale cash-based; buyer must be legally eligible to purchase a firearm in Alabama and undergo a background check.
If a bidder is legally prohibited, the firearm is re-auctioned and the bidder is refunded; proceeds after expenses go to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement uses.
Sheriff may establish procedures to destroy firearms and spend necessary funds for that purpose.
Guns held by the sheriff on August 1, 2012 are subject to these provisions, with a minimum holding period of six months after August 1, 2012.
Effective date: first day of the third month after gubernatorial 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: Jackson County