Harris supported law to protect homeowners from squatters

A new law supported by State Senator Napoleon Harris III will make it easier for law enforcement to remove criminal trespassers from a person’s home.

“If someone breaks into your home when you go out of town, they shouldn’t have the same rights as someone who rents a room in your house,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “This will make it easier for the police to remove squatters from a residence.”

Senate Bill 1563 clarifies the state’s eviction law to ensure nothing about the eviction process keeps law enforcement from enforcing criminal trespassing laws. This change clarifies that squatters, who criminally trespass onto another person’s property, can be removed without going through the eviction process.

Under current law, squatters differ from trespassers in that they claim to have property rights, meaning the only way to remove them is through the eviction process. This new law ensures squatters who break into a home are not afforded the same rights as tenants, because the police will now be able to remove the squatters as criminal trespassers.

“Squatters are taking advantage of a system set up to protect people getting kicked out of their residence without warning,” said Harris. “We passed this new law to ensure there is a key distinction between someone who is following the rules and someone who is breaking the law.”

Senate Bill 1563 was signed into law last month and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.