HB1559 - Civil Asset Forfeiture Summary

• Restricts property forfeiture to cases where the owner has been convicted of a covered misdemeanor or felony offense, eliminating forfeiture based on acquittals or dismissals.

• Repeals administrative forfeiture procedures and requires all forfeiture proceedings to be conducted in circuit court with judicial oversight.

• Mandates that seizing agencies pay for safe and secure storage of seized property at the agency's expense until completion of forfeiture proceedings or final disposition.

• Limits in rem (property-based) forfeiture to cases where the property owner has died without successors, cannot be located, abandoned ownership claims, or the owner would have been convicted if not deceased.

• Effective date: July 1, 2030.