All Roll Calls
Yes: 304 • No: 4
ArkansasHB10492025 Regular SessionHouse
TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING CRIMINAL OFFENSES; AND TO CRIMINALIZE UNLAWFUL SQUATTING.
Sponsored By: Ronald Caldwell (Republican), Dwight Tosh (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Squatting victims can sue for losses
If you are harmed by a violation of the unlawful-squatting law, you can sue the person responsible. You can seek damages, including repayment for losses, and reasonable attorney’s fees. The law does not set a fixed recovery amount.
New protections and penalties for squatting
Arkansas gives property owners new criminal-law protection against unlawful squatting. The crime covers dwellings, commercial buildings, and vacant or unimproved land. It requires knowingly entering and living there for any period without lawful authority. The person must lack ownership, current tenant status, a valid occupancy agreement, and immediate-family status with the owner. Immediate family includes spouses, children, parents or guardians, siblings, and grandparents, by blood, adoption, or marriage. The person must also be unable to show any qualifying proof: a deed or mortgage in their name; a lease naming and signed by the other party or authorized representative; a valid written or electronic entry agreement; or reliable proof of rent paid within the last 60 days. The property must not be open to the public at entry. The owner must have directed the person to leave or law enforcement must have been contacted. No lawsuit may be pending between the owner and the person. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor; a second is a Class A misdemeanor; a third is a Class D felony. Knowingly producing a false document is also a Class D felony. Separately, the law broadens “premises” for burglary, trespass, and related offenses to include occupiable structures and any real property, subject to the squatting section’s separate definition.
Owners control reports; responding officers gain protection
Law enforcement can accept unlawful-squatting reports only from the property owner or the owner’s authorized representative. Officers responding in good faith are protected from criminal and civil liability for that response. The law also allows a false-report charge when someone falsely reports unlawful squatting.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Ronald Caldwell
Republican • Senate
Dwight Tosh
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Wade Andrews
Republican • House
Sonia Eubanks Barker
Republican • House
Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Republican • House
Rick Beck
Republican • House
Mary Bentley
Republican • House
Keith Brooks
Republican • House
Cameron Cooper
Republican • House
Frances Cavenaugh
Republican • House
Paul Childress
Republican • House
Bruce Cozart
Republican • House
Cindy Crawford
Republican • House
Matt Duffield
Republican • House
Hope Duke
Republican • House
Les D. Eaves
Republican • House
Brian S. Evans
Republican • House
Tony Furman
Republican • House
Justin Gonzales
Republican • House
Zack Gramlich
Republican • House
RJ Hawk
Republican • House
Mike Holcomb
Republican • House
Steve Hollowell
Republican • House
Julie Mayberry
Republican • House
Jeremiah Moore
Republican • House
Lane Jean
Republican • House
Joey L. Carr
Republican • House
John P. Carr
Republican • House
Karilyn Brown
Republican • House
Lee Johnson
Republican • House
Jack Ladyman
Republican • House
Wayne Long
Republican • House
Robin Lundstrum
Republican • House
Roger D. Lynch
Republican • House
Matt Brown
Republican • House
Mark D. McElroy
Republican • House
Matthew J. Shepherd
Republican • House
John Maddox
Republican • House
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Rick McClure
Republican • House
Richard McGrew
Republican • House
Ron McNair
Republican • House
Jon Milligan
Republican • House
Stetson Painter
Republican • House
Shad Pearce
Republican • House
Chad Puryear
Republican • House
Rebecca Burkes
Republican • House
R. Scott Richardson
Republican • House
David Ray
Republican • House
Marcus E. Richmond
Republican • House
Johnny Rye
Republican • House
Stan Berry
Republican • House
Stephen Meeks
Republican • House
Bart Schulz
Republican • House
Trey Steimel
Republican • House
Steve Unger
Republican • House
DeAnn Vaught
Republican • House
Steven Walker
Republican • House
Les Warren
Republican • House
Jim Wooten
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/27/2025
House Vote - Thursday, February 27, 2025 2:18:36 PM
Yes: 92 • No: 2 • Other: 3
House vote • 2/25/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, February 25, 2025 2:12:40 PM
Yes: 91 • No: 0 • Other: 3
Senate vote • 2/24/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, February 24, 2025 2:26:58 PM
Yes: 32 • No: 0
House vote • 2/10/2025
House Vote - Monday, February 10, 2025 2:41:54 PM
Yes: 89 • No: 2 • Other: 5
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1049 is now Act 238
3/4/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
2/27/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
2/27/2025HouseSenate amendment # 2 read and concurred in.
2/27/2025HouseSenate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.
2/25/2025HouseReturned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1 & 2
2/24/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed as amended # 1 & 2 .
2/24/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/24/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/18/2025SenateAmendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/18/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
2/18/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/13/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/13/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
2/13/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
2/12/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/10/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/10/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/6/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/4/2025HouseAmendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
2/4/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
2/4/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
1/13/2025HouseFiled
11/21/2024House
Bill Text
HB1049 - Introduced
11/21/2024
Act Version
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