HB609 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rick RehmRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Henry County; Henry County Sheriff's Office and Henry County Task Force, authorized to sell, use, and destroy certain abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed property

Summary

HB609 would authorize Henry County's sheriff and task force to manage abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed property by recording, storing, auctioning, and disposing of it with specific rules for notices, proceeds, and firearms.

What This Bill Does

The sheriff must keep public records of recovered property (including firearms) and store items safely. After six months with no owner claim, the sheriff can sell the property at public or Internet auctions, with notice published or posted at the courthouse; firearms require an ATF license and comply with federal transfer rules, and perishable items can be sold without notice if the owner cannot be located. Owners may claim their property before sale by proving ownership and may owe a pro rata share of publication costs. Proceeds are held for six months for the owner to claim; if unclaimed, net proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Fund for law enforcement and are subject to audit.

Who It Affects

• Property owners in Henry County who have abandoned or stolen property recovered; they can claim the property within six months and may owe publication costs if applicable.
• Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Henry County Task Force, which must record, store, auction, and dispose of property and manage related funds and compliance.
• Members of the Henry County public, including potential bidders and firearm buyers, who can inspect records and participate in auctions; firearm sales require an ATF license and federal transfer compliance.

Key Provisions

• The sheriff must maintain public records of recovered abandoned or stolen property, including descriptions, dates of recovery, and serial numbers (firearms listed with identifying details).
• All records must be open to public inspection, and recovered property must be stored to prevent deterioration.
• Property unclaimed after six months can be sold at public or Internet auctions; firearms require an ATF license and federal transfer compliance; perishable items may be sold without notice if owner cannot be found.
• Before sale, owners may claim property by proving ownership; they may be required to pay a pro rata share of publication costs.
• Sale proceeds are held for six months for owners to claim; unclaimed net proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Fund for law enforcement purposes and are audited.
• Unclaimed firearms may be used for law enforcement or destroyed at the sheriff’s discretion.

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

Subjects

Henry County