House Bill 134 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tracy EstesRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Lamar County; disposition of personal property; process revised, online auctions authorized, public notice requirement revised

Summary

HB134 updates Lamar County's rules for disposing of county property, adds an online auction option, and revises publication requirements.

What This Bill Does

It applies only to Lamar County and revises how the county disposes of real and tangible property. It keeps sealed bids for most sales, with the chair certifying description and value, and allows trade-in value to be used as a credit under Alabama's bid laws. It adds an annual public auction option (in person or online); online auctions do not require publication, while traditional bidding still requires newspaper ads prior to bid closing. Proceeds go to the appropriate county funds, penalties apply for violations, and taxpayers or unsuccessful bidders may sue to stop improper contracts; the act becomes effective June 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Lamar County government (county commission) — must follow revised disposal processes, bidding/auction procedures, and record-keeping.
• Residents, taxpayers, and potential bidders — may participate in sealed bids or the annual online/in-person auction, with new transparency and legal remedies available in case of violations.

Key Provisions

• Applies only to Lamar County and revises the process for selling real property, tangible personal property, equipment, or other county-owned items.
• For most disposals, requires free and open competitive sealed bids; the chair certifies the property's description/condition, estimates value, and keeps certification as a permanent record.
• Allows tangible personal property with trade-in value to be offered as a credit against purchases under Alabama's Competitive Bid Law.
• Bidding ads: requires public notice in a countywide newspaper for four consecutive weeks and in a statewide newspaper at least seven days before bid closing.
• Auction option: permits an annual public auction (in person or online); if online, publication is not required, and a list of auctioned items must be available in county offices.
• Proceeds: must be deposited into the appropriate district fund or the county general fund if the property was county-owned.
• Violations: constitutes a Class B felony with fines up to $15,000 and potential imprisonment; taxpayers and unsuccessful bidders may sue to enjoin improper contracts.
• Effective date: June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Lamar County