By Daniel Stefanski |

A bill to strengthen Arizona homeowners’ property protections may be close to the Governor’s Office.

The Arizona Legislature is wrapping up consideration of SB 1129, which would “allow a property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent to request, from law enforcement, the immediate removal of a person who is unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling and outlines conditions that determine if a person is unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling; [and] deem that a person who fails or refuses to surrender possession of the property as directed by a law enforcement office is committing trespass” – according to the purpose from the Arizona Senate.

In a statement to support the legislation, Senator Wendy Rogers, the bill sponsor, said, “The issue of squatters taking over people’s homes is growing exponentially across the nation, including here in Arizona. People are scheming to take over homeowner’s properties, posing a threat to their safety and property rights. Arizonans are particularly vulnerable because of the number of snowbirds that leave their homes unoccupied for months at a time. 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 added, “I introduced SB 1129 to combat this issue by allowing a homeowner to request law enforcement immediately remove that person from the property. It’s important to note, the bill was written to address strangers occupying a home, not someone who has lived in the home with the owner or with permission of the owner. Therefore, it protects against situations involving domestic violence. We must put an end to this criminal activity. This bill will soon make its way to the Governor’s desk, and I urge her to sign it.”

The bill first passed the Arizona Senate in February with a bipartisan 18-8 vote (with four members not voting). It was amended in the State House and passed with another bipartisan result, 39-19 (with two members not voting). SB 1129 was transmitted back to the State Senate for concurrence, where it remains for the present time.

Senators Farnsworth, Kavanagh, Kern, Shope, and Wadsack, and Representative Gillette joined Rogers as cosponsors of the legislation.

On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona signed in to support the bill. Representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Arizona National Organization for Women, State Conference NAACP, and WM E Morris Institute for Justice indicated their opposition to the proposal.

Last week, legislators held a press conference outside of the Arizona Capitol to mark the progress of the bill and urge its enactment into state law.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.