The Arizona House has passed SB1426—legislation sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers to strengthen protections for property owners dealing with squatters—sending the bill to the Governor’s desk with bipartisan support.
Across Arizona and the country, property owners have increasingly raised concerns about squatters exploiting legal loopholes to remain in homes without permission. In many cases, owners have been forced into lengthy and costly legal battles to remove individuals who never had a lawful right to occupy their property.
Rogers’ SB1426 directly addresses this growing problem by clarifying the legal process for removing unlawful occupants and ensuring that property owners have a faster, more reliable path to regain control of their homes. The bill strengthens Arizona’s forcible entry and detainer laws, making it clear that individuals who enter or remain on property without authorization cannot use delays in the legal system to prolong their stay.
Senator Rogers has been a leading voice on this issue after hearing directly from constituents who faced real-world challenges dealing with squatters. Homeowners and landlords have described situations where they were locked out of their own property or forced to spend months navigating legal hurdles just to remove unauthorized occupants.
In response, Rogers made it a priority to advance legislation that puts property rights first and closes the loopholes being exploited.
Rogers has said throughout the legislative process that “property owners should not have to fight to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.”
SB1426 reflects that commitment by restoring balance and ensuring the law works for those who own property and against squatters who unlawfully occupy it.
The bill’s bipartisan support highlights the broad agreement that this issue needed to be addressed. Lawmakers from both parties recognized the importance of protecting homeowners and ensuring that Arizona law provides clear, enforceable remedies.
With final passage in the House on April 28, SB1426 now heads to the Governor’s desk for her signature.
Bill information:
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84994