Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has signed two new bills into law aimed at addressing squatting on private property in Texas. At a ceremony held at the Texas Capitol, Abbott formally enacted Senate Bill 38 and Senate Bill 1333, which are designed to close legal loopholes and strengthen homeowners’ rights.

"Private property rights are a cornerstone of our Texas values,” said Governor Abbott. "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."

The event was attended by several lawmakers and business leaders, including Speaker Dustin Burrows, Senator Bryan Hughes, Senator Paul Bettencourt, Representative Angie Chen Button, Representative Jeff Leach, Texas Association of Business President and CEO Glenn Hamer, Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO Greg Sindelar, and Greystar Managing Director of Real Estate Renee Zahn.

Senate Bill 38 clarifies court procedures for eviction cases. The legislation specifies where eviction suits should be filed and sets uniform deadlines for trials and appeals. Notably, it requires courts to hold a trial within 21 days after an eviction petition is filed.

Senate Bill 1333 grants sheriffs and constables more authority to act quickly when property owners file sworn complaints about unlawful occupation by squatters. The bill also increases criminal penalties for certain offenses related to trespassing in homes or conducting real estate transactions without proper ownership.