Bill > HB1287

This bill requires that any legal action to seize property used in connection with a crime, known as forfeiture, must be paused until the person whose property is targeted is convicted of the crime and has gone through all appeals. However, property can still be forfeited even without a final conviction if the forfeiture is agreed upon through a plea agreement, which is a deal between the defendant and the prosecution, or if the property owner does not claim their property back within one year of it being seized. The bill also removes a previous provision that allowed courts to stay forfeiture proceedings related to criminal charges, and it clarifies that certain weapons used in crimes are forfeited upon conviction, but allows for their return to the lawful owner under specific circumstances.