Kentucky Rep. Marianne Proctor (R-Union), whose district comprises a chunk of Boone County, has filed a bill with the General Assembly that would make squatting a class D felony and provide tools by which a property owner can have squatters removed from a property.
Squatting refers to living in someone’s property without the owner’s permission.
Proctor’s legislation, House Bill 142 – which is co-sponsored by several other Northern Kentucky legislators, including Rep. T.J. Roberts (R-Burlington), Rep. Steve Doan (R-Erlanger) and Rep. Mark Hart (R-Falmouth) – would establish several measures if passed.
It would establish a unified definition of squatting, and it would allow a property owner or authorized agent of the owner to request police to remove a squatter from their property so long as the owner has already directed the squatter to leave, the owner or owner’s agent submits a statement at the time of the request and that no eviction proceedings have started between the two parties.
If passed, the bill would also insulate the arresting officer from civil and criminal liability so long as the officer is acting in good faith. Additionally, the bill would make the fraudulent sale of property a felony and, finally, would make squatting a felony. Currently, criminal trespassing in Kentucky is considered a misdemeanor.
“Squatting has become a serious issue for communities and property owners across the nation,” Proctor said in a press release. “House Bill 142 is a proactive measure to address this problem and protect personal property rights. No one should occupy another person’s property without consent. Imagine returning home from vacation, a long hospital stay, or the home of a recently deceased loved one, only to find strangers living in your house. The process of removing these individuals can lead to a lengthy and drawn-out civil court battle. By granting law enforcement the authority to remove squatters, we will uphold the rights of property owners, better protect our communities, and ensure that property owners can access their property without the burden of prolonged legal procedures.”
You can learn more about the content of the bill at the General Assembly’s dedicated webpage.