Abbott Signs Anti-Squatter Bills to Protect Texas Property Owners

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) ceremonially signed Senate Bill 38 and Senate Bill 1333 into law at the Texas Capitol, aiming to close legal loopholes and give property owners stronger tools to evict squatters and protect private property rights.

“Private property rights are a cornerstone of our Texas values,” said Governor Abbott during the signing ceremony. “Texas is facing a squatting crisis, with property owners struggling to evict delinquent tenants or remove people who were never supposed to be on their property in the first place. Through these new laws, homeowners now have an efficient means of evicting squatters from their property.”

Speaker Dustin Burrows (R), Senators Bryan Hughes (R) and Paul Bettencourt (R), Representatives Angie Chen Button (R) and Jeff Leach (R), along with leaders from the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and real estate firm Greystar, joined Abbott.

Senate Bill 38 clarifies eviction procedures by streamlining venue requirements and mandating that trials in eviction cases take place within 21 days of filing. It also standardizes the timeline for appeals.

Senate Bill 1333 enables sheriffs and constables to act quickly on sworn complaints from property owners claiming a squatter has taken unlawful possession. The law also increases criminal penalties for criminal mischief, trespassing, and fraudulent real estate transactions.

The move comes as Texas grapples with a rise in squatting cases, sparking calls for more efficient legal remedies for homeowners and landlords.