Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has rejected a bill that would have granted authorities the power to promptly evict individuals believed to be squatting in a home in Arizona.

According to Senate Bill 1129, homeowners would have the right to seek assistance from law enforcement in order to evict individuals who they believe are unlawfully occupying their property. The homeowner must submit a sworn affidavit stating that the occupant is neither a current nor former tenant.

Upon receiving the affidavit, law enforcement officials must confirm that the person who submitted it is indeed the rightful owner of the property before taking action to evict the undesired occupant.

According to Democrats, the abilities granted by the bill could potentially enable domestic abusers to exercise financial dominance over their victims.

The governor stated in her veto letter, “This bill fails to leverage existing legal mechanisms, respect the due process rights of lawful tenants, and minimize unintended consequences, such as for victims of domestic violence.”

In contrast, the Republicans had a differing opinion and contended that the bill was necessary in order to protect the homeowners’ rights, particularly those of snowbirds who leave their Arizona residences unoccupied for extended periods of time.

According to state Senator Wendy Rogers from District 7, it is imperative that we prioritize safety and safeguard the well-being of our residents and property owners while also protecting their property rights.

The procedure in Arizona for evicting an illegal occupant can become convoluted and potentially entail legal proceedings. In the meantime, the legal owner has no access to their property and there is risk of expensive property damage the longer the situation continues.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, individuals who are suspected of squatting will be apprehended for trespassing if they are unable to provide proper documentation proving their permission to reside in the property.

Florida legislators recently modified their laws to permit property owners to request law enforcement to evict unauthorized occupants. Some other states have also put forward comparable bills as there has been an growing increase in the issue across the country.

Supporters of Senate Bill 1129 feel that in vetoing this bill, Hobbs is siding with the squatters and telling the homeowners of Arizona that the government has no interest in protecting property owners or punishing criminals working the system.