HB 502 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

City of Prichard; Mobile County, expedited quiet title process established

HB 502 allows the City of Prichard in Mobile County to clear ownership of abandoned tax-sale properties it purchased from the state land commissioner through an expedited court process. The city must make a good-faith effort to identify owners (using deeds, tax records, and property signs) and notify them before filing a single court petition. If owners can't be found, the city may use newspaper publication for notice. The circuit court must schedule a hearing within 90 days, and a court ruling may extinguish all ownership claims, giving the city clear title to the properties. This applies only to Prichard's properties acquired under Alabama's tax sale laws.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed Apr 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized for signature (Enrolled) with minor formatting updates. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of the notice requirements for property owners: the city must now check tax records for payments made within the last five years and search voter lists and death records to find owners, ensuring more interested parties are notified before the city takes title.

REQUIREMENT

The city must now examine tax records to identify parties who paid taxes in the five years prior to the sale and search voter registration lists and probate records to locate owners.

The required content of the hearing notice was expanded to include the city's contact information and a request for public information about the property's prior owners.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes updated the bill status from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' and adjusted line numbers.

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

Amendments

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1071

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Mobile County Legislation)

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1028

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1027

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Mobile County Legislation Engrossed Substitute Offered (Mobile County Legislation)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Mobile County Legislation)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors