| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3871 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1802 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Bradley H. Jones, Jr. |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act addressing squatter’s rights. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth2/20/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester1/21/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/28/2025David K. Muradian, Jr.9th Worcester1/29/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/11/2025 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3871 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1802 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1802) of |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to squatter’s rights. The Judiciary. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2025-2026) |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | An Act addressing squatter’s rights. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | 1 SECTION 1. Section 120 of chapter 266 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | 2official edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 3thereof the following:- |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 4 This section shall not apply to tenants or occupants of residential premises who, having |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 5rightfully entered said premises at the commencement of the tenancy or occupancy, continue to |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 6legally reside at the property per a lease or written agreement. The owner or landlord of said |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 7premises may request from the sheriff of the county in which the property is located the |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 8immediate removal of a person or persons occupying the property, provided that: |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 9 The property was not open to members of the public at the time the occupant or |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 10occupants entered; |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 11 The property owner or landlord has directed the occupant or occupants to vacate or leave |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 12the property; and 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 13 The occupant or occupants have not signed a lease or written agreement entitling them to |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 14reside at the property, have remained on the property after their lease or written agreement has |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 15expired, or have knowingly and willingly failed to adhere to the terms of the lease or written |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 16agreement. |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 17 The property owner or landlord may petition the sheriff’s office of the county in which |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 18the property is located by presenting a completed and verified complaint to remove persons |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 19unlawfully occupying residential real property, which shall verify that the above conditions are |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 20met. The owner or landlord may submit this form in writing or complete it online. |
|---|