On January 27, 2025, the House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1079 authored by Rep.Zimmerman and co-authored by Rep. Kyle Pierce on property matters. The bill:
- Provides that if a tenant does not claim the tenant’s property within 30 days after receiving a certain notice, a warehouseman or storage facility may sell the tenant’s property (current law requires a warehouseman or storage facility to wait 90 days).
- Defines “squatter” as an individual who occupies the real property of another and who does not have and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of a property owner; or (3) another legal interest in the real property; authorizing the individual to occupy the real property.
- Provides that, under certain circumstances, a property owner may obtain an expedited removal of a squatter from the property owner’s residential real property or commercial real estate.
The Indiana Apartment Association and Prosperity Indiana testified in support of the bill. The bill was held for amend and vote.
On February 17, 2025, the bill was amended to remove the language concerning expedited removal of squatters. The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1079