House Bill 284 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Brock ColvinRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Marshall County; abandoned and stolen property, auction procedures revised

Summary

HB284 revises Marshall County's rules for handling abandoned and stolen property (including firearms), changing how items are auctioned, how notice is given, and how firearms are recorded and disposed of, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the sheriff would sell abandoned or stolen property that remains unclaimed after 12 months at public or Internet auctions. Notices must be given at least 20 days before the sale, either by publishing in a newspaper once a week for two weeks or by posting at the courthouse, and the notice must describe each item and sale details; perishable items may follow existing rules. The sale would be cash-only, with a record kept of what was sold and for how much, and the sheriff could reject unreasonably low bids or continue the sale if there are no bidders. A new firearm provision would require a permanent record of abandoned or stolen firearms, efforts to locate owners, and potential sale to licensed gun dealers via sealed bids or destruction if unclaimed, with proceeds going to the Sheriff’s Office.

Who It Affects

• Property owners whose abandoned or stolen items are recovered but not claimed within 12 months and could be sold at auction.
• Licensed gun dealers (FFLs) and the Marshall County Sheriff's Office, with firearms placed on a permanent record, sold to dealers via sealed bids, or destroyed if unclaimed.

Key Provisions

• Requires sale of unclaimed property after 12 months via public or Internet auction.
• Mandates notice of auctions (newspaper publication for two weeks or courthouse posting) at least 20 days before sale; describes items.
• Cash-only sales; storage records; sheriff may reject low bids and continue sales if no bidders.
• Creates permanent firearms record for abandoned/stolen firearms; owner-location efforts; sale to FFL dealers via sealed bids; destruction option; proceeds go to the Sheriff’s Office.
• Effective date October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marshall County