HB399 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tracy EstesRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Lamar County; disposition of personal property; process revised, online auctions authorized, public notice requirement revised
Summary: HB399 revises Lamar County’s process for disposing of county property, allows online auctions, and removes publication requirements for online sales.
What This Bill Does
It applies only in Lamar County and sets how the county can sell property: typically through sealed bids with required advertising and a public bid opening, but it also allows an annual public auction (in person or online) with its own notice rules. It lets trade-in value be used as credit against purchases under the Alabama Competitive Bid Law, and requires a list of auction items to be available at the county offices. Proceeds go to the appropriate fund, and violations carry penalties; taxpayers and unsuccessful bidders can sue to stop improper contracts. The law takes effect June 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Lamar County government officials (county commission) who handle sale/disposal of county property and must follow bidding/advertising requirements, record-keeping, and proceeds allocation.
Taxpayers and potential bidders in Lamar County who are affected by the sale processes, ad/public notice changes (including online auctions), civil action rights, and penalties for violations.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 45-38-71.01 to apply only in Lamar County and requires sales of property via free and open competitive sealed bids with the county commission chair certifying property description/condition, estimating value, and maintaining the certification as a permanent record.
Allows tangible personal property with trade-in value to be offered as a credit against purchases made under the Alabama Competitive Bid Law.
Bidding ads must appear four consecutive weeks in a countywide newspaper and once in a statewide newspaper at least seven days before bid closing; ads must describe the property and provide bid opening details.
Bids must be publicly opened with bidders able to attend; collusion or agreements to fix prices void bids and may disqualify bidders; pre-opening disclosures are void.
In lieu of bidding procedures, property may be sold at a public auction (in person or online) once per year, with advertising requirements (two weeks and four weeks in advance) and a published list of auction items available at the county offices; online auctions may not require public advertising.
Proceeds from sales go to the appropriate district fund or the county general fund if the property was county-owned.
Violations are Class B felonies with penalties including up to $15,000 fine and up to seven years in prison; taxpayers and unsuccessful bidders may sue to enjoin violating contracts.
Effective date: June 1, 2025.

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