HB 42 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Motor vehicles; reporting requirements for towed and unclaimed motor vehicles, further provided

HB 42 changes Alabama's process for reporting unclaimed towed vehicles. It allows tow truck operators (or others possessing a vehicle after towing) to report it as unclaimed to the Department of Revenue immediately after towing, rather than waiting up to five days after the vehicle was deemed unclaimed. The bill requires reporting via the Department's online portal, mandates checking vehicle history databases to find owners, and specifies that notices to owners must include redemption details and a 30-day deadline. If unclaimed, the vehicle's title is placed on a 60-day hold, preventing new title issuance until the owner claims it or the vehicle is sold under Alabama's Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Sep 18, 2025 Signed Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enacted as HB42, transitioning from a draft proposal to an official law. The core policy regarding unclaimed motor vehicles remained largely consistent, defining when a vehicle is considered abandoned and requiring owners to report them to the Department of Revenue. However, the final version added specific procedures for handling vehicles returned before the hold period ends and clarified the process for notifying owners if the vehicle was registered in another state.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on unclaimed motor vehicles, but the enforcement timeline was extended. The Department of Revenue must now place a 60-calendar day hold on a vehicle's title record before issuing a new title, whereas the draft version did not specify this duration.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory 60-calendar day hold on vehicle titles to prevent new titles from being issued while the vehicle is unclaimed.

Added a requirement for the person reporting the vehicle to notify the owner or lienholder within five days if the vehicle was returned before the hold period ended.

Added specific steps for contacting out-of-state registries and sending certified mail to owners if the vehicle was previously registered elsewhere.

TIMELINE

Established a specific effective date of October 1, 2026, for the new provisions.

ENFORCEMENT

Added penalties stating that failure to report an unclaimed vehicle results in forfeiture of claims for garaging, parking, and storage fees.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for vehicles left on private property for repairs, clarifying the 48-hour window for redemption.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 719

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 136

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Public Safety and Homeland Security)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors