The Jefferson County Council has taken a stance against “squatting,” the practice of illegally occupying an uninhabited structure.
Council members voted unanimously April 22 to approve a resolution that supports a bill making its way through the Missouri House of Representatives that, if passed, would target people illegally living on private residential property.
District 113 State Rep. Phil Amato (R-Arnold) proposed House Bill 2896, also known as the Squatters Bill, and the House Committee on Rules-Regulatory Oversight approved it on April 15. Now it is expected to be presented on the House floor for a vote.
“What (the council resolution) really shows is that we need something,” said Councilman Gene Barbagallo (District 2, Imperial). “I don’t know if this is the perfect bill; it will be up to the rest of the representatives to decide that, but it shows that we need something. The way it is isn’t working, especially in other states, and I don’t want our county and our state ending up like these other states that have a terrible problem.”
Amato’s proposed bill would broaden the definition of trespassing in the first degree to include unauthorized entry and the refusal to leave vacant property, he said in a recent written statement.
Additionally, when a trespasser refuses to leave a private residential property, Amato’s bill would elevate the first-degree trespassing offense to a class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
The bill is modeled after Florida’s “anti-squatter” law, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on March 27. According to the governor’s official website, the law allows property owners to request the immediate removal of squatters by law enforcement if certain conditions are met. Amato said his bill makes “significant enhancements” to the Florida law.
“It is an important piece of legislation that, when signed by (Missouri Gov. Mike Parson), other states will emulate,” Amato said. “This is an important issue that affects a lot of people and needs to be solved.”
Barbagallo said the council resolution strikes a personal note with him. His nephew owned a rental property, and a tenant refused to pay rent or leave the property.
“He finally got the gentleman out, but it cost him several thousand dollars in legal fees just to get the man out of his home,” Barbagallo said. “He also had to spend hundreds of dollars to fix the place up. If it’s not yours, and it belongs to someone else, by gosh, who are you to say they can’t have it?”
Amato’s Squatter Bill is one of 125 selected to be considered on the House floor. The bill will need to be approved by both the Missouri House and the Senate before moving to the governor’s desk for final approval.
The last day of the session for the Missouri Legislature is May 17.