States across the country are moving to rewrite property rules as squatting cases test the balance between homeowner rights and due process. From Florida to Illinois and New York, lawmakers are tightening timelines, adding criminal penalties and creating new tools for police and courts. Together, these efforts show how fast “squatter” laws are evolving to protect homeowners from unauthorized occupants.
1) Florida
Florida is at the forefront of the crackdown, with Governor Ron DeSantis signing multiple measures aimed at both residential and commercial properties. One law, signed by Gov., targets squatters who move into homes without permission and is designed to speed up removal when owners can show clear proof of title. A separate set of bills, highlighted when Gov. Ron DeSantis focused on commercial properties, responds to complaints from Business owners who say unauthorized occupants can tie up storefronts and hotels for months.
Last year, DeSantis approved Florida House Bill, which was described as a way to “drastically speed up” the process for removing squatters from residential properties. By giving law enforcement clearer authority when owners file sworn statements, the state is trying to prevent drawn-out civil disputes that leave families locked out of their own homes. The combined residential and commercial focus signals that Florida intends to make unauthorized occupation a short-lived strategy rather than a long-term loophole.
2) Illinois
Illinois is moving in the same direction, but through a bill that is still working its way through the legislature. A proposal to crack down on squatting has already passed the Illinois Senate and now heads to the House, where debate will focus on how quickly owners can reclaim property while preserving due process for occupants. Lawmakers have also formed a dedicated squatter task force to study patterns across the state and recommend further changes if needed.
Supporters describe the measure as a targeted response to cases where owners return to find strangers living in their homes and refusing to leave. A related effort, identified as Senate Bill 1563 and known as the squatter bill, has advanced out of a House committee, signaling broad appetite for reform. New Illinois laws taking effect in 2026 already tighten other public safety rules, including a requirement that gun owners report lost or stolen firearms to police within 48 hours, underscoring a wider push to close perceived enforcement gaps.
3) New York
New York is one of the five states identified as adopting stricter “squatter” laws to protect homeowners. Policymakers there have faced intense scrutiny over rules that can treat unauthorized occupants as tenants after a short period, complicating efforts to remove them. In response, new measures are tightening definitions of who qualifies as a lawful tenant and clarifying when police can intervene instead of forcing owners into lengthy housing court battles.
These changes are particularly significant in a state with high housing costs and a large stock of multifamily buildings, where disputes over access can quickly escalate. By narrowing the circumstances in which squatters can claim protections, New York is trying to reassure small landlords and individual homeowners that they will not lose control of their properties through procedural delays. The reforms also fit into a broader national trend of states reexamining long-standing landlord-tenant rules in light of viral squatting cases.
4) Georgia
Georgia has emerged as another key battleground, with reporting on a so-called “peaceful hostile takeover” case helping to galvanize support for tougher laws. At least 13 states enacted new anti-squatter measures in 2025, and Georgia’s experience is cited as part of that national crackdown. The state’s response includes the Georgia Squatter Reform Act, which is designed to make it easier for owners to reclaim homes that have been occupied without consent.
Under Georgia Squatter Reform, People living in another person’s house without their consent face explicit criminal consequences, not just civil eviction. That shift is intended to deter organized schemes in which groups move into vacant or listed properties and then resist removal. For homeowners, the law promises faster relief and a clearer path to involving law enforcement when they discover strangers occupying their houses.
5) Texas
Texas is also listed among the SQUATTER LAWS trend, as states such as Florida and Alabama help set the template for tougher enforcement. According to the Source identified as Stessa, Anti-squatting legislation is spreading, and Texas is part of the group moving to give owners faster remedies when unauthorized occupants refuse to leave. New measures are aimed at expediting removal procedures and clarifying when local sheriffs can act on sworn complaints from property holders.
These steps matter in a state with rapid population growth and extensive new construction, where vacant homes can be especially vulnerable. By aligning with other states that are passing strict new “squatter” laws to protect homeowners, Texas is signaling that it wants to close any perceived loopholes that might invite opportunistic occupation. For landlords, investors and families alike, the emerging framework is meant to reduce uncertainty about how long it will take to regain control of a house once a squatter is discovered.
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