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Committee advances squatter-removal bill with affidavit process, perjury penalty; passes 9-3
Summary
Senate Bill 157 would create a defined "squatter" offense and allow property owners to submit an affidavit that triggers a 48-hour law-enforcement response; the committee accepted amendments adding a civil penalty for false affidavits and passed the bill 9-3.
Senator Gaskell presented Senate Bill 157 to the House Judiciary Committee, describing a compact statutory process to expedite removal of people occupying property without any lawful rental agreement or permission. "The first thing in section 2 of the bill we define what squatter is," Gaskell told the committee, adding the bill would not change trespassing law or landlord-tenant eviction processes.
Under the bill as discussed, a property owner who discovers a person occupying property without a rental agreement, permission or other property interest could execute an affidavit under penalty of perjury attesting to those facts. Once law enforcement receives the affidavit, the bill requires an officer to respond and gives the officer up to 48…
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