Private property, and its respect under the law, represents a foundational principle, solidly anchored to Texas’ longstanding commitment to limited government and a free market economy. It is what allows us, as free individuals, to act upon our ambitions and obtain all the goods and services that give life comfort. In short, property rights are what enable us become self-sufficient.
Squatter’s rights do not exist; property rights do.
On May 15, 2024, Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero testified before the Senate committee on the issue of “squatter’s rights.” McCaw Property Management (n.d., para 1) defines a squatter as “somebody who is living on a land or in a building that is either unoccupied, abandoned, or foreclosed without the legal consent of the...