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Committee advances Georgia Anti-Squatting Act with magistrate jurisdiction and innkeeper protections
Summary
The Senate Public Safety Committee advanced a committee substitute of House Bill 61, the "Georgia Anti-Squatting Act of 02/2025," adopting amendments that add magistrate-court jurisdiction, innkeeper protections, and criminal and civil remedies for unlawful squatting.
The Senate Public Safety Committee voted to advance a committee substitute for House Bill 61, titled the "Georgia Anti-Squatting Act of 02/2025," after extended debate and two adopted amendments. Representative Seabaugh, the bill's author, presented the substitute and answered committee questions; the committee adopted the measure and voted to send it forward.
Representative Seabaugh said the substitute aims to "enable swift and lawful removal of squatters, protect property rights, and deter fraudulent occupancy," and summarized key provisions that the substitute adds. The bill grants magistrate courts jurisdiction over unlawful-squatting cases, adds unlawful squatting to magistrate-court misdemeanor trials with countywide jurisdiction, defines unlawful squatting and requires mandatory…
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