The Georgia Squatter Reform Act, introduced on Jan. 24, will expand criminal trespassing to those who enter private property for any period without consent from the owner.
Approximately 1,200 homes in Atlanta have been taken over by squatters, according to The National Rental Home Council trade group, Bloomberg reported.
“We have to do something about this,” said Representative Devan Seabaugh, a co-sponsor of HB 1017. “We’re dealing with criminals.”
The bill’s most recent activity was its second Senate reading on March 14, meaning that HB 1017 could become law if passed through the chamber.
If the bill passes, squatters will be arrested, charged with a misdemeanor and fined.
Once enforced, HB 1017 would convict criminals who enter homeowner property as well as those who enter another person’s land, vehicle, railroad car, aircraft or watercraft, according to the bill.
Seabaugh told Fox News that the bill will also help court proceedings move faster as it pushes for hearings to be conducted through a non-jury magistrate court.
With no jury, handling legal matters in court will be significantly reduced in time, therefore removing squatters sooner.
The bill is sponsored by a Republican coalition of the following representatives: Devan Seabaugh, Matt Reeves, James Burchett, Clint Crowe, Deborah Silcox and Bill Yearta.
Regardless of the Republican majority, Seabaugh said that the Democratic Party was supportive of the bill. The House vote resulted in a 167-0 vote in favor on Crossover Day, with six members not voting and seven excused.
In Georgia, squatters can legally own another person’s property through adverse possession. Criteria for adverse possession includes open and notorious, exclusive and hostile possession of the property for 20 consecutive years. These legal doctrines and tenant laws are used as loopholes for squatters to take possession of a property or evade removal, according to Fox 5 News.
On Feb. 5, a Channel 2 Action News investigation discovered an Instagram account called ‘1TimePaymentHomes’ that provides keys and a fake lease to a squatter home for a one-time payment of $1,400.
With few options to fight back, many homeowners have struggled to reclaim their estates.
In a 2023 squatter instance, Lt. Col. Dahlia Daure returned from active duty to find a convicted criminal living in her $500,000 DeKalb County home that had been for sale, Atlanta News First reported.
“I had to be here, I was not going to take this lying down,” said Daure. “People need to know that they have rights, homeowners have rights.”
Currently, HB 1017 has reached the Senate and has until March 28 to pass this legislative session. To track the progress of the bill and view other information, visit the Georgia General Assembly website.
