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Local lawmaker says they will pursue bill to criminalize squatting and discusses housing work in Montpelier
Summary
A board member who represents the town at the state level said they will be in Montpelier to work on housing issues and plan to introduce an amendment to make squatting a crime rather than a civil matter to speed removals; they described the intent and possible effects.
A board member who represents the town in Montpelier told the board they will be meeting with state committee members about housing and said they plan to introduce legislation that would classify squatting as a criminal offense rather than a civil matter. "I'm going to Montpelier tomorrow. Our my committee, which is the housing and general committee, we're actually meeting with the senate side of our committee... Our focus is housing," the member said.
On the proposed squatting change the member said the aim is to shorten the removal process in renovation or occupancy disputes: "I'm amending a law that's already on the book, so it's gonna make squatting a crime instead of a civil matter." They described that if passed the change could allow faster removals in cases where people occupy property without a lease, potentially reducing time and cost compared with civil eviction processes.
