Squatters Bill Headed to PA Governor with Local Support

By Christen Smith of The Center Square
Republished by Travels With The Post

(The Center Square) – Legislation that partly dismantles “squatters rights” in Pennsylvania will head to the governor’s desk after a brief stumbling block.

Under the soon-to-be law, squatters could face a defiant trespass charge if they don’t vacate a property after being told to do so by the owner. Doing so safeguards homes and investments quickly and effectively without wading through needless red tape, said its prime sponsor, 49th District state Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie.

The bill won local support from, among others, 147th District state Rep. Donna Scheuren. Scheuren earlier tried unsuccessfully to amend and further strengthen the bill.

An ‘escalating problem’

Laughlin said the “escalating problem … strikes at the heart of justice and fairness” and can pose safety threats. One such incident in his district, he said, saw two homes razed and two more damaged from a fire that squatters started.

“This is one example of the personal and emotional ordeal that countless families and individuals face when they find their homes and investments under siege,” he said. “Under our current legal framework, too many property owners are exposed, struggling against a system that doesn’t fully shield their rights or protect their homes.”

The state Senate unanimously passed the bill June 12 (2024), and the House followed suit on Tuesday (July 9), even though some lawmakers said it didn’t go far enough to protect homeowners.

Scheuren, who operates district offices in Gilbertsville and Harleysville, said on the chamber floor that she’d vote for the bill. Her backing came despite the bill’s exclusion of her amendment to give law enforcement more authority to evict squatters on the spot.

“This issue seems to infuriate every rational person across our Commonwealth and as legislators, I feel its our duty to continue to work on common-sense solutions that put our homeowners rights before the criminals,” she said.

Photo by ifer endahl on Unsplash, used by Travels With The Post under license