Lars Larson: The fake squatter bill

By Lars Larson
NW and national radio host,

Leave it to Oregon Democrats to tell the public they have a solution to the obnoxious problem of squatters and then not solve the problem.

You’ve heard that the rocket scientists down at the legislature have passed House bill 3522 to make it easier to get rid of folks who illegally occupy a rental they’re not renting and don’t own.

Don’t believe it.

Down in the details, you find out that all it does is say that you can now use eviction instead of ejectment and they’re nearly identical.

Big deal.

Eviction still means going to court, having the sheriff serve papers, and likely waiting months before the squatter is gone. It provides no penalties to the squatter so guess what most of these creeps will do to your rental.

Message to squatters, feckless Democrat lawmakers have got your back.

They could have done what Florida did one year ago. Their new law allows law enforcement to immediately remove someone who occupies a home illegally.

And it provides criminal penalties for squatters.

None of that in Oregon under the new law.

When Governor Kotek, who has promised to double housing in Oregon, signs the bill…her message to landlords and developers…we’re still going to allow squatters to steal your property and you’re going to have to pay plenty to get it back.