(The Center Square) – An Arizona bill to crackdown on squatting in Arizona has passed both chambers with bipartisan support and now headed to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk.
Senate Bill 1129, which was sponsored by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, would give owners more power to kick out people who are squatting on their property.
“A property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent may request from law enforcement the immediate removal of a person who is unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling,” the bill states.
It is ultimately ended to allow people to provide a “sworn affidavit” to law enforcement in order to prove that the people who are staying on their property on not authorized to be there, and if the occupants do not leave they would be charged with trespassing.
“We hope Governor Hobbs signs it,” Rogers said at a news conference on Wednesday, noting that the bill has gotten some Democratic support.
In the Senate, Democratic Sens. Eva Burch and Theresa Hatathlie voted in favor. On the House side, eight Democrats voted in favor.
An apparent rise in squatting nationwide has become a phenomenon in recent weeks, according to Realtor.com. But the concept of squatter’s rights has been called into question for years, and it’s become a controversial concept as cost of living rises for both renters and homeowners alike.
When The Center Square asked if Hobbs will sign the bill, her office did not respond in time for publication.
