Ahead of this year’s legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked state lawmakers to look for ways to “secure Texas” against the plight of people illegally occupying residential spaces. Gov. Greg Abbott also promised to tackle “the increasing problem that we face in the state caused by squatters.”
But the legislation that emerged has little, if anything, to do with what housing experts typically think of as squatting. Instead, it would radically transform the eviction process for millions of Texas renters, making it easier for landlords to evict them, often without notice or a legal proceeding.
Tenant advocates, judges and lawyers have raised the alarm about House Bill 32 , calling it a Trojan Horse that would strip tenants of their due process rights and erode judicial authority…