Squatter Bill Passes House
The REALTOR®-supported bill to update and broaden last year’s law on squatters passed the House of Representatives last week. In 2024, AAR successfully advocated for a new law that allows property owners to fill out an affidavit when a squatter occupies a home rather than being forced to engage in a lengthy and costly court case.
Sponsored by Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden), HB 474 strengthens the 2024 law by setting a timeline for removal by law enforcement, clarifying that municipal law enforcement has jurisdiction within city limits, expanding the process to include any building and real property, prohibiting law enforcement from turning away a property owner with a completed affidavit, and requiring law enforcement agencies to have a clear process for handling squatter removal affidavits, among other things.
