New legislation introduced in Texas to make it easier for authorities to remove squatters would also strip millions of Texan renters of some of their rights, according to critics.
House Bill 32, written by state Representative Angie Chen Button, would end the requirement for a landlord to issue a notice to vacate for a tenant who is being evicted for a reason other than late payment of rent.
Newsweek contacted Button for comment via email on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
According to Census American Community Survey (ACS) data, in 2019, about 38 percent of households in Texas were renter-occupied, constituting about 3,775,000 households.
The bill could have substantial impact on the rights of the tenants and remove protections that make them harder to evict.
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What To Know
Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to prioritize legislation targeting squatters this year following a number of high-profile cases, including that of Terry Boyette in Mesquite who was left homeless for 11 months while a squatter was evicted from her home.
In May 2024, there were nearly 500 cases of squatting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area alone, according to state Senator Paul Bettencourt, a Republican.
Texas House Bill 32 would remove the current requirement that landlords provide tenants with a three-day notice to vacate before they begin eviction proceedings, except in cases where rent hasn’t been paid.
Instead, the landlord could state there are “no genuinely disputed facts” in the case and ask for a summary judgement, meaning the case would be decided without going to trial.
The legislation also allows landlords to file eviction notices in precincts adjacent to where their property is located. In an interview with The Houston Chronicle, Michael Cade Moore, a Fort Bend County justice of the peace, said this “seem to erode the whole point of having a regional people’s court.”
Moore also argued that Button’s bill is unconstitutional and would likely face legal challenges if passed.
What People Are Saying
Ryan Marquez, from the University of Houston Law Center’s civil justice clinic, told The Houston Chronicle: “You’re talking about someone’s home here. You want extra protection, not less protection. And I feel like this ends up with a lot less protections for tenants to even get to see a judge.”
Chris Newton, associate executive vice president of the Texas Apartment Association, welcomed Texas House Bill 32, saying it would “provide Texas property owners with a more efficient judicial process to quickly resolve claims of possession for both squatting and non-contested evictions.”
What Happens Next
Texas House Bill 32 is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, having first been sent to the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee. To become law, it must be approved by the Texas House and Senate, both of which are Republican controlled, then be signed into law by Abbott.