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AlabamaHB2942025 Regular SessionHouse

Etowah County; Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, authorized to sell, use, and destroy certain abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed property

Sponsored By: Mack Butler (Republican)

Enacted

Etowah County

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Etowah drug unit can reuse unclaimed guns

The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit can use recovered abandoned or stolen guns for law enforcement after six months unclaimed. It can instead destroy guns that are unlawful or unsafe to use. The unit decides whether to use or destroy these guns.

Unclaimed Etowah sale money funds enforcement

The Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit must hold sale money in a separate account for six months. During that period, it must pay owners who request the money and prove ownership, minus allowed costs. After six months unclaimed, recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale costs are deducted before the remaining money enters the county's Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Account. That account can fund only law enforcement. Its receipts and spending are subject to audit by the Examiners of Public Accounts.

Etowah property owners face auction deadlines

Beginning October 1, 2025, these rules cover property held by the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit on or after that date. The unit must keep public records with property descriptions, recovery dates, and identifying numbers where available, and store property against deterioration. It can sell abandoned or stolen property at public or Internet auction after at least six months unclaimed. Sale notices must describe the sale and items, appearing weekly for two consecutive weeks in a county newspaper of general circulation. Instead, the unit can post notice conspicuously at the county courthouse for at least 20 days. Perishable goods can be sold without notice after reasonable efforts to find and identify the owner fail. Owners can reclaim property before sale with proof accepted by the unit, which can charge a proportional share of publication costs. Owners can also claim sale money within six months, minus recovery, storage, maintenance, and sale costs. Firearm auctions require a federally licensed firearm seller and compliance with federal transfer rules. The unit must seek the best price, record each sale and amount, and can reject unreasonably low bids and continue the sale.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mack Butler

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 131 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 443

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 2/27/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 259

Yes: 12 • No: 0 • Other: 87

House vote • 2/27/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 57 • No: 0 • Other: 43

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/11/2025House

  2. Signature Requested

    4/3/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor

    4/3/2025House

  4. Third Reading in Second House

    4/1/2025Senate

  5. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 443

    4/1/2025Senate

  6. Ready to Enroll

    4/1/2025House

  7. Enrolled

    4/1/2025House

  8. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    3/19/2025Senate

  9. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    3/19/2025Senate

  10. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation

    3/4/2025Senate

  11. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    3/4/2025Senate

  12. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/27/2025House

  13. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 259

    2/27/2025House

  14. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/25/2025House

  15. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/20/2025House

  16. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation

    2/18/2025House

  17. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    2/18/2025House

Bill Text

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