Trespassing: removal of trespassers on residential property.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Public Safety
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, the Remove Illegal Squatters from Private Property Act, creates a new crime of unlawful squatting for individuals who knowingly reside on private property without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Law enforcement agencies must issue a citation and require the squatter to provide documentation authorizing their presence. If the documentation is deemed improper or fraudulent, the individual will be removed, fined, and potentially face misdemeanor charges. The bill also clarifies that local law enforcement will be responsible for addressing this issue.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘unlawful squatting’ as knowingly residing on private property without permission.
- Requires law enforcement to issue a citation and demand documentation authorizing entry.
- Allows a court to determine if documentation is legitimate; fraudulent documentation leads to removal and fines.
- Establishes a potential misdemeanor penalty for unlawful squatting.
- Excludes certain individuals (tenants, former tenants in dispute, holdover tenants, and those with a claim of tenancy or adverse possession) from the definition of ‘squatter’.
- Specifies that ‘resides’ means to inhabit or live on the property.
- Provides a mechanism for avoiding state reimbursement to local agencies for this mandate.
- States that costs incurred due to a change in crime or infraction penalties will not require reimbursement.
Who is affected
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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