This bill amends the requirements for the annual report that the attorney general must submit regarding forfeitures of personal property. The new legal language specifies that the report must be posted on the Department of Justice website within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year and must include detailed information about each seizure. The previous requirement for a general report on state forfeiture activity has been replaced with a comprehensive list of specific data points, including the name of the law enforcement agency involved, the date and place of the seizure, the type and estimated value of the property, the alleged criminal offense, the outcome of the criminal case, and various other details related to the forfeiture process. Notably, the bill excludes the requirement to report on seized contraband such as alcohol and controlled substances.

Additionally, the bill mandates that law enforcement agencies provide disaggregated data on seizures, forfeitures, and expenditures of forfeiture proceeds to the attorney general. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage. The fiscal note indicates that while the bill does not authorize new positions or funding, it is expected to incur additional administrative costs for the Department of Justice, including the hiring of an investigative paralegal funded primarily through federal sources. Estimated costs for this position are projected to be $59,000 in FY 2026, $58,000 in FY 2027, and $60,000 in FY 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 617:12