Input by Adjoining Property Owners; Procedures for Adjoining Owners to Submit Bids for Public Auction

(a) Any municipal ordinance enacted pursuant to this article shall include an avenue for input by adjoining property owners to participate in the rehabilitation and use of the property subject to this article. (b) For all sales conducted pursuant to Section 11-40-68, the municipality shall establish procedures that allow adjoining owners to submit bids before any public auction. Bids shall be accompanied by an affidavit or declaration stating: (i) the bidder is the owner-occupant of a property that shares a common property line or border with the property being bid on; and (ii) either the bidder qualifies for an exemption from ad valorem taxes under Sections 40-9-19, 40-9-19.1, 40-9-20, or 40-9-21, or the bidder is a family member of a deceased individual who qualifies for an exemption from ad valorem taxes under these sections but has not yet received the exemption. If bids are received pursuant to this subsection, the municipality shall accept the highest bid from adjoining owners and cancel the public auction. The winning bid shall be due immediately upon acceptance. If there are no bids from adjoining owners, a public sale shall proceed pursuant to Section 11-40-68. (Act 2017-304, §10; Act 2026-407, §1.)