What unfolded inside the Texas House chamber reads like satire, but it’s official record. Lawmakers debated for over two hours on whether people who illegally occupy your home while you’re away should be allowed to stay. Not theoretical. Not metaphorical. Actual squatters. Individuals who trespass, settle in, and refuse to leave were given the full defense of elected Democrats, while Republicans pushed legislation to remove them.
Democrats keep fighting for these insane "rights" that 90% of common sense people don't agree with.
Even more Democrats disagree with the concept of 'allowing squatters to stay in your house if they move in while you are on vacation'. Nobody in their right mind agrees with… https://t.co/wfDPm93PdV
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) June 19, 2025
The bill in question, Senate Bill 38, was introduced to address a clear and rising problem. It gives homeowners legal standing and expedited procedures to evict squatters without the usual legal gridlock that drags on for months. Texas Rep. Steve Toth cut through the procedural fog. “This bill seeks to keep squatters out of our House. Democrats have fought for two hours for the right, I don’t even know how to say this. For the right of people that don’t belong in your house to stay in your house in the event that you leave for a month or two and a squatter goes in and takes your house over.”
The bill passed 85 to 44. Revisions made prior to passage targeted abuse concerns. This version is narrow. It does not apply to renters or leaseholders. It covers situations where no contract exists and no rent is paid. Property owners statewide have dealt with fraudulent lease documents, identity theft claims, and delay tactics that tie up courts while unauthorized occupants live rent-free. Many of those owners lose months of income, with zero recourse.
Law enforcement often refuses to intervene without a judge’s order, turning clearly unlawful entries into long-term standoffs. Senate Bill 38 forces the issue into high-gear by moving those cases to the front of the docket and giving judges authority to act with speed. The Texas Apartment Association supported the bill, citing widespread abuse of housing law in major metro areas.
This isn’t happening in isolation. Florida and Georgia legislatures are prepping similar laws. Arizona’s version passed out of committee last week. These are not red-state oddities. They’re responses to a legal vacuum. Texas drew the line this week. The bill now heads for final Senate review before it likely reaches Governor Abbott’s desk.
Sources:
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/texas-house-squatters-eviction-bill/