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Committee advances measure to tighten squatting rules and clarify hotel guest status amid concerns for families
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Summary
Representative Seebaugh presented House Bill 61 to expand magistrate jurisdiction, create a verified sworn‑complaint removal process for alleged squatters and clarify innkeeper/guest distinctions for extended‑stay hotels. The committee approved the bill after extended questioning about protections for families and operational burdens on hotels.
Representative Seebaugh presented House Bill 61 as a public‑safety and property‑rights bill designed to address gaps remaining after 2024’s House Bill 1017. The sponsor said the measure focuses on three areas: clarifying law‑enforcement authority and expanding magistrate jurisdiction to allow a verified sworn complaint process for immediate removal where no lawful tenancy exists; tightening the unlawful squatting statute by requiring alleged occupants to produce valid documentation within a defined time frame; and clarifying the legal distinction between innkeeper/guest and landlord/tenant relationships for hotels and extended‑stay facilities.
Seebaugh said the bill shortens delays for writs of possession, improves officer safety protocols during removals and preserves due process by protecting legitimate tenants with valid leases and creating civil remedies for wrongful removal. "House Bill 61 is not about eviction reform. It is about addressing situations where no lawful tenancy exist, where property is being occupied through trespass or fraud, and where public safety and property rights are at risk," she said.
Committee members pressed for safeguards for families and people who have come to rely on extended‑stay hotels. Senator Williams said he feared a small child or family could be left without shelter during cold weather if hotels move quickly to remove occupants; Seebaugh acknowledged the concern and said the bill requires valid written occupancy contracts and provides notice provisions and the ability for hotels to work out payment arrangements.
Lisa Anders, chief operating officer of Explore Gwinnett (the Gwinnett County tourism office), told the committee hotels contact her weekly about the issue and that in Gwinnett County the most frequent problematic occupants are individuals, often male, who exploit system gaps; she said hotels frequently work with nonprofits to assist families but that availability of such assistance varies by county.
After questions and industry testimony the committee voted to report HB 61 do pass; the committee recorded eight votes in favor and two opposed (the transcript names Mike Sine as one opposed). The sponsor and chair said the bill will move on to Senate Rules.
