Republicans support strengthened squatting laws

The following resolution was approved by the Travis County GOP Executive Committee April 2024 meeting:

WHEREAS, the increasing number of illegal aliens within the United States and the horrific stories of homeowners around the country—including in Texas—having to endure lengthy delays by courts to evict vagrants and the high costs of making repairs to damaged homes which were taken over by “squatters” has focused renewed attention upon the need to review state laws nationwide relative to so-called “squatters rights”; and

WHEREAS, in a recently-reported case in Texas, a woman who had gone to Florida to care for her ailing mother for a period of months, returned to Texas only to find that “squatters” had taken over her residence; she experienced delays by local courts in evicting these vagrants; and ultimately faced an estimated cost of $200,000 in making subsequent repairs to her dwelling caused by the damage inflicted upon her property by the later-evicted “squatters”; and

WHEREAS, one particular illegal alien in the United States from Venezuela has received national attention for brazenly publishing videos on the internet advising other illegal aliens on ways to exploit weaknesses in, and to circumvent, state laws around the nation so as to seize dwellings from their lawful owners while those rightful owners happen to be away for an extended period of time; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Travis County Republican Party respectfully urge the Texas Legislature to review existing Texas laws relative to “squatting” and to enact legislation during 2025 to strengthen existing state laws to the benefit of residential property-owners in Texas; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Travis County Republican Party similarly press for a formal plank to be incorporated into the upcoming 2024 Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Platform likewise urging the Texas Legislature to undertake such a review of existing property-rights law, and to enact remedial legislation; and be it further

RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Republican State Senator and to the Republican State Representative who represent portions of Travis County in the Texas Legislature with the request that they consider the introduction of legislation in 2025 to cure whatever deficiencies that might be discovered in current Texas law relative to “squatting”; and be it further

RESOLVED, likewise, that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented during the upcoming 2024 state convention of the RPT in San Antonio for inclusion of a plank in the 2024 RPT platform to seek legislative attention in 2025 to this serious property-rights issue.