Mirroring laws passed by Florida, Georgia, New York, and others, House Bill 1076 criminalizes squatting in a model attempt to ensure that the private property rights of Texans are protected from bad actors (Salmonsen, 2024). In a time when Texas is one of the top three states in which squatters are occupying homes—with “an estimated 475 homes that had been occupied by squatters” concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Rahman, 2024)—HB 1076, if passed, would be a major victory in the fight to protect the private property rights of Texans. The specificity of the bill ensures that there is no ambiguity in the law and closes any loopholes that bad actors have taken advantage of in the past. By doing so, HB 1076 aims to secure one of the most sacred of all rights: the right to property.
Historic Preservation Commissions Tread on Property Rights
John Mark Slack wanted to restore his historic San Marcos home for livability. But San Marcos’ Historic Preservation Commission demanded that in order to get a Certificate of Appropriateness—its stamp of approval—he must replace the roof, siding and doors; broaden the front porch, and add skirting to their specifications. But commissioners didn’t stop there. In...