HB114 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt WoodsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to fiduciary funds in the hands of officials; to amend Section 19-3-87, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for disposition of unclaimed funds held in a county treasury after being unclaimed for a certain number of years; and to amend Section 35-12-73, Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt unclaimed funds under Section 19-3-87, Code of Alabama 1975.

Summary

HB114 changes how Alabama counties deal with long-unclaimed funds by shifting them to county road and bridge maintenance after a 10-year waiting period, with required notice.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a process where funds held unclaimed by county officials for five years and then paid into the county treasury can be forfeited to the county for road and bridge work after 10 years of being in the treasury, following public notice. It requires notice of the intended forfeiture (at least 90 days on official sites and in local newspapers) before the funds are forfeited. It also clarifies that unclaimed funds under this provision are exempt from a related reporting requirement and excludes certain funds (municipal court funds and restitution payments) from these rules, while implementing minor language updates.

Who It Affects

• Individuals or entities that might have a right to recover unclaimed funds: they may recover the unclaimed amounts within 10 years after the funds were paid into the county treasury; if they do not claim within that window, the funds become the county's for road and bridge use.
• County governments and county treasuries: they will receive and manage unclaimed funds, must maintain a separate accounting for these payments, and will use funds to maintain and construct roads and bridges after forfeiture.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 19-3-87 to allow funds unclaimed for five years and then paid into the county treasury to be tracked and eventually forfeited to the county after 10 years for road/bridge maintenance.
• After the 10-year period in the county treasury, rights to the unclaimed funds are forfeited and vested in the county treasury for roads and bridges, with notice requirements (90 days on official sites and weekly newspaper notices) before forfeiture.
• Any unclaimed funds under Section 19-3-87 are exempt from the reporting requirements of Section 35-12-73.
• Exclusions: the provisions do not apply to unclaimed funds held by municipal courts or unclaimed restitution payments, and the bill includes nonsubstantive/technical updates to align language with current style.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.