House Judiciary committee advances amendments to H2 and H21 to let any sheriff serve writs of possession

The House Committee on Judiciary voted to advance committee amendments to two bills, H2 (amendment draft 5.1) and H21 (amendment draft 2.1), that would remove language limiting service of writs of possession to the sheriff of the county where the property is located and instead direct any sheriff in the state to serve the writ and put the plaintiff into possession.

The changes, discussed during the committee’s floor session, strike the limiting language in the current statutory text and replace it with a provision directing “any sheriff” to serve and execute a writ of possession. Eric, a legislative staff member who reviewed the drafts for the committee, said the execution element remains part of underlying law and did not have to be rewritten in the amendment text.

Committee members said the amendments aim to align sheriff duties across jurisdictions and reduce inconsistency in practice. “This amendment will align the sheriff’s duties in situations where they’re serving…