Governor Hobbs vetoes bill aimed at strengthening homeowner property rights
April 23, 2024
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bipartisan bill designed to address the growing issue of squatters taking over homes in Arizona. Senator Wendy Rogers had spearheaded SB 1129, which sought to expedite the removal of unlawful occupants and strengthen homeowner property rights.
The proposed legislation would have enabled homeowners to request law enforcement to immediately remove individuals unlawfully occupying their property. Under this measure, refusal to vacate would be treated as trespassing under Arizona law.
"Criminals are scheming to take over homes that aren't theirs, posing a threat to the safety of homeowners and infringing on their private property rights," said Senator Rogers. "Although we have trespassing laws, it's often difficult to prove a person is unlawfully occupying a home and can result in a lengthy legal battle. Homeowners testified in committee hearings about their property being severely damaged, the subsequent astronomical costs from these criminals, and consequently, they felt incredibly violated. We should not further victimize homeowners with a time-consuming, cumbersome, and costly removal process."
In her veto letter, Governor Hobbs cited concerns that the bill failed to protect the rights of lawful tenants and could lead to unintended consequences for victims of domestic violence. Senator Rogers countered by stating that the bill specifically addresses illegal occupants and includes exemptions for family members and cohabitants.
Senator Justine Wadsack shared her personal experience with squatting: "As a Realtor, I've personally encountered a squatter occupying a home I was showing to a client. It was a terrifying threat to my safety, the safety of my clients, as well as to the homeowners. When I called the police, I was told there's not much they could do."
Wadsack added that constituents frequently report similar issues: "Nobody should ever be allowed to live in and occupy another person's home without their permission."
The Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus expressed disappointment over what they view as another missed opportunity for commonsense bipartisan legislation.
For more information:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
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