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House concurs in Stop Squatters Act after contested floor debate
Summary
Senate Bill 101, a measure to criminalize certain forms of unlawful squatting and provide expedited removal and indemnity for law enforcement, was concurred in by the House after floor debate that split lawmakers over existing civil remedies and law enforcement roles.
The House voted to concur in Senate Bill 101 on March 26, a bill that creates offenses described as unlawful squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of property and that provides a process for law enforcement to remove persons from premises and for indemnification of officers acting in good faith.
Representative Adam Vinton, who introduced the measure on the floor, said the bill addresses organized schemes that attempt to take over property titles or occupy homes by fraud. "We're just trying to catch up with many other states that are doing this," Vinton said.
Opponents including Representative Jeremy Griffith and Representative Nick Revis argued similar protections already exist in Montana law — forcible entry and detainer, trespass, and burglary statutes — and warned the bill could shift a civil property dispute into a criminal enforcement role and raise indemnity concerns. Representative Baum raised concerns about indemnification language that would shield officers when removing occupants and said it could expose public employers to civil claims.
Representative Shane Maness defended the bill, saying law enforcement and associations had worked on edits and that the Sheriff's Association, Montana Police Protective Association and Montana Realtors supported the final language. "Section 4, codification. Title 45 is crimes. This is going into crimes," Maness said, framing the bill as a criminal offense distinct from landlord-tenant law.
On the floor the House concurred in SB 101 by a vote of 58 to 42.
Next steps: Senate Bill 101 was concurred in by the House and will proceed toward final enrollment and signature according to the legislative calendar.
