Senate committee gives favorable report to HP474, clarifies squatter law procedures

A Senate committee voted to report favorably on HP474, an update to last year's law addressing so-called squatter claims, with committee members saying the bill clarifies law-enforcement duties and expands the remedy to vacant and commercial properties. Franklin Johnson, identified as with Realtors, told the committee, "This HP474 is an update to the squatter bill passed last year. It clarifies" jurisdictional questions.

The measure, as described by Johnson, is intended to resolve implementation problems where affidavits brought to law enforcement were sometimes rejected. Johnson said the revision clarifies that affidavits "can't just [be] outright reject[ed]," and expands the provision so it can be used for vacant land or commercial property.

The change matters, supporters said, because county and municipal law enforcement had applied the prior language inconsistently. "We found from implementation issues when someone was to bring an affidavit into the law enforcement," Johnson said, explaining the need for the clarification.

Senator Givens stated she supported the bill but expressed concern about the proposed definition of "power of attorney" and said she was likely to offer an amendment that would limit the definition's scope to this section only. A committee staff member replied that the definition had been pulled from another section.

Committee staff called the roll after a motion and second for a favorable report; the clerk announced "8 in favor." The committee gave HP474 a favorable report to the full body for further consideration.

The committee then moved to the next agenda item.