House Bill 4846 establishes expedited sheriff removal procedure for residential squatters

Original title: Property: other; alternate procedure to evict squatters; provide for.

Last action · September 9, 2025: bill electronically reproduced 09/04/2025Sponsors: Steve Frisbie and 30 others

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What This Bill Would Do

House Bill 4846 would allow residential property owners or their authorized agents to submit a verified complaint to the county sheriff for the immediate removal of unlawful occupants. Upon verification of ownership, the sheriff must serve a notice to immediately vacate, put the owner in possession, and permit the owner to change the locks.

Why it matters

Property owners gain an administrative avenue to reclaim unlawfully occupied dwellings without standard court eviction proceedings, while unlawful occupants and owners alike face civil liability risks for false statements or wrongful removals.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

real property owners

Property owners gain an administrative procedure to request sheriff assistance in removing unlawful occupants and changing locks, while assuming liability for false statements or wrongful removals.

Directly affected

sheriffs

Sheriffs are required to verify ownership complaints, serve notices to immediately vacate without delay, restore owners to possession, and collect service fees and hourly standby rates.

Directly affected

unlawful occupants

Unlawful occupants face immediate service of notice to vacate, removal of personal property to the property line, potential arrest for trespass or warrants, and the right to sue for wrongful removal.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a property owner request the removal of an unlawful occupant under this bill?

An owner or authorized agent must submit a completed and verified complaint under penalty of perjury to the sheriff of the county where the property is located, attaching government-issued identification or documentation of agency authority.

What is the sheriff's role upon receiving a valid squatter removal complaint?

The sheriff must verify that the complainant is the record owner or authorized agent, serve a notice to immediately vacate on the occupants without delay, and restore the owner to possession of the property.

What legal recourse exists if someone is wrongfully removed under this procedure?

A person harmed by a wrongful removal can bring a civil cause of action to be restored to possession and recover actual costs and damages, statutory damages equal to triple the fair market rent, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

Sep 9, 2025House
bill electronically reproduced 09/04/2025
Sep 4, 2025HouseCommittee
referred to Committee on Judiciary
Sep 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
read a first time
Sep 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Steve Frisbie

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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