AL HB294

Applies exclusively to Etowah County and authorizes the Drug Enforcement Unit to maintain records of abandoned and stolen personal property recovered, including descriptions, recovery dates, and serial numbers, with records open to public inspection.

Permits the Drug Enforcement Unit to sell abandoned or stolen property at public auction (including Internet auction) to the highest bidder after property remains unclaimed for at least six months, with notice published in local newspapers once weekly for two weeks or posted at the courthouse for 20 days.

Requires persons conducting firearm auctions to hold a federal ATF license and comply with federal firearm transfer requirements; allows sale without notice for perishable items when reasonable owner identification attempts fail.

Establishes that sale proceeds are held in a separate account for six months, during which owners can claim proceeds minus recovery and storage costs; unclaimed proceeds after six months are transferred to the Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Account for law enforcement purposes only, subject to audit.

Permits unclaimed firearms after six months to be used by the drug enforcement unit for law enforcement purposes or destroyed if unlawful or unsafe; becomes effective October 1, 2025.