HB593 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Connie C. Rowe
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Walker 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: Allows Walker County Sheriff to auction or dispose of abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed property and firearms, with record-keeping and proceeds designated for law enforcement.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires the sheriff to keep permanent public records of abandoned and stolen property and to store it securely. It lets the sheriff sell perishable property without notice if the owner can’t be found, with six months to claim the proceeds; after expenses, unclaimed funds go to the Sheriff’s Office. It also sets rules for firearms, allowing sale only to licensed dealers after six months if unclaimed, and authorizes destruction of firearms; non-firearm property is auctioned at least every six months with proper notice, and proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Fund for law enforcement.

Who It Affects
Abandoned or stolen property owners in Walker County, who can claim their property within set timeframes and may owe recovery costs, storage, and publication expenses.
Gun dealers with a current federal firearms license, who may bid on firearms sold by the sheriff.

Key Provisions
Section 1: Sheriff must keep a permanent public record of abandoned and stolen property and store it to prevent deterioration.
Section 2: Perishable property may be sold without notice if owners are not found; sale proceeds held for six months for owner to claim, minus recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale costs.
Section 3: Separate firearm records; firearms can be sold or destroyed if unclaimed after six months; firearms sold only to FFL dealers by highest sealed bid for cash; proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Office; destruction allowed with funds.
Section 4: At least every six months, non-firearm property can be sold at public or Internet auction after published or posted notice; details of items and sale times must be published or posted.
Section 5: Owners can claim property before sale by proving ownership and paying recovery and storage costs and a share of publication costs.
Section 6: Sales records updated; sheriff may reject unreasonably low bids and can continue sale if no bidders.
Section 7: Proceeds from sales go into the Sheriff’s Fund at a Walker County bank and can be used only for law enforcement.
Section 8: Effective date is the first day of the third month after passage.

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