Texas Senate to examine state laws around squatters

Texas will take a look at its laws regarding squatter's rights ahead of the 2025 general session of its legislature.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — What the Texas Property Code calls "adverse possession," more commonly known as squatting, will come under review by state lawmakers in a hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick brought the issue to the State Senate with the April 11 release of his interim charges for the body ahead of the 2025 regular session.

The item, titled "Secure Texas Against 'Squatters,'" calls on the Senate's Local Government Committee to review the state's adverse possession laws. It also tasks the committee to recommend ways for the law to "streamline" the removal of squatters and "strengthen the rights of property owners."

Currently, state law appears to treat squatters as unwanted tenants -- according to the Texas State Law Library, laws that protect legal tenants from unlawful evictions may cause uncertainty for authorities.

"People in this situation sometimes ask the police to remove the unwanted guest for criminal trespassing," a post on the library's website reads. "However, authorities may be reluctant to remove a person who claims they live on the premises."

Beyond the short-term, a squatter can eventually gain control of a property if there hasn't been any legal action to remove them. However, a landowner has a ten-year period to bring such a lawsuit to evict the person squatting.

The committee, chaired by Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, will convene at 1 p.m. to hear testimony from invited speakers and members of the public.