Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
This bill adds a new section to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that bars any State law creating squatter’s rights from applying to real property owned by a servicemember if a squatter occupies that property during the servicemember’s period of military service. It also updates the Act’s table of contents to include the new provision.
Federal preemption vs. states' traditional control of property law
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused substantive amendment that clearly states its purpose and places the text within the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
This bill adds a new section to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act that bars any State law creating squatter’s rights from applying to real property owned by a servicemember if a squatter occupies that property during the servicemember’s period of military service.
It also updates the Act’s table of contents to include the new provision.
The change would preempt state adverse-possession or similar squatter-rights claims for the described circumstances.
Targeted, low-cost pro-service member measure with limited controversy; federalism questions and Senate procedures are main obstacles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused substantive amendment that clearly states its purpose and places the text within the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The primary mechanism (express preemption) is direct and legally straightforward.
Federal preemption vs. states' traditional control of property law
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Federal preemption vs. states' traditional control of property law
Likely supportive overall because it protects servicemembers from losing homes while deployed.
Will seek assurances it does not unjustly harm housing-insecure people who occupy vacant homes.
Generally favorable because it protects deployed service members’ property rights, but wants clearer definitions and implementation details.
Concerned about federal preemption of settled state property law and unintended consequences.
Supportive of protecting military members and private property, but cautious about expanding federal preemption over traditional state property law.
Wants narrow, clearly limited federal role.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Targeted, low-cost pro-service member measure with limited controversy; federalism questions and Senate procedures are main obstacles.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Federal preemption vs. states' traditional control of property law
Targeted, low-cost pro-service member measure with limited controversy; federalism questions and Senate procedures are main obstacles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a narrowly focused substantive amendment that clearly states its purpose and places the text within the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The primary mechanism (exp…
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