Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed legislation that garnered bipartisan support and would strengthen property owners’ rights, making it easier for them to evict squatters.
The bill, SB 1129, would allow for a homeowner to call law enforcement to immediately remove a squatter from their home. Under current law, police officers do not possess the authority to remove someone illegally residing in one’s home, leading to a costly legal battle for homeowners experiencing this issue.
But Hobbs vetoed the bill, claiming in a letter that it “fails to leverage existing legal mechanisms, respect the due process rights of lawful tenants, and minimize unintended consequences such as for victims of domestic violence.”
However, sponsor state Sen. Wendy Rogers said the bill had exemptions for family members, those who agreed to cohabitate and didn’t interfere with landlord-tenant law.
“Although we have trespassing laws, it’s often difficult to prove a person is unlawfully occupying a home and can result in a lengthy legal battle,” Rogers said.
The bill’s veto comes following Republican-led states such as Florida and Georgia passing legislation cracking down on so-called “squatter’s rights.”
During committee hearings, homeowners testified how squatters caused severe damage to their property, leading to high repair costs. State Sen. Justine Wadsack shared that when she worked as a realtor, she encountered a squatter at a home that she was showing to a client.
“It was a terrifying threat to my safety, the safety of my clients, as well as to the homeowners,” Wadsack said. “When I called the police, I was told there was not much they could do. It’s a shame Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed yet another piece of commonsense bipartisan legislation.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed Hobbs’ veto.
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“The governor of Arizona just vetoed a bill we signed here in Florida so these squatters could be evicted,” DeSantis said. “What kind of message does that send? You’re saying you can squat in someone’s house and then they basically have to go through a six-month process.”
Including SB 1129, Hobbs vetoed a total of ten measures on Tuesday. So far, this legislative session she has vetoed 52 bills. Last year, she issued a total of 143 vetoes, surpassing the single-year record of former Gov. Janet Napolitano.
