Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB159
HB159: Removing Unlawful Occupants and Updating Property Crimes
Last scannedSep 21, 2026, 12:32 AM
In one sentence
This bill creates a process for property owners to ask police to remove people living in their homes without permission, while also changing the laws on trespassing, forgery, and deceptive business practices.
What it does
- Allows homeowners or their agents to file a sworn request with a peace officer to remove an unlawful occupant from a residential dwelling unit if specific conditions are met.
- Requires that the owner has told the person to leave, confirms there is no rental agreement between them, and verifies no lawsuit regarding the property is pending.
- Directs police officers to verify ownership before serving notice for immediate vacating; owners may request an officer stay on-site while locks are changed or personal items are moved.
- Increases criminal trespass in the first degree to a class B felony if it causes $1,000 or more in damages.
- Updates the definition of forgery in the second degree to include rental agreements as documents that affect legal rights.
- Amends rules for deceptive business practices regarding false statements used to promote sales and the use of false weights or measures.
Who it affects
- Owners of residential real property who have people living there without permission, a lease, or family ties.
- People occupying a dwelling unit without the owner's consent, a rental agreement, or an immediate family relationship to the owner.
- Peace officers in municipalities and unincorporated communities who process removal requests and serve notices.
- Individuals accused of forgery involving deeds, contracts, or rental agreements.
Limits and unknowns
- This process does not apply if there is an active lawsuit between the owner and the occupant regarding the property.
- The bill text provided ends abruptly, so details on all changes to deceptive business practices are incomplete.
- An effective date for when these laws begin is not listed in the source material.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Unlawful occupant
- A person living in a home without permission, who entered when it was not open to the public, and has no rental agreement or immediate family tie to the owner.
- Peace officer
- A police officer authorized to receive removal requests, verify ownership, serve notices, and keep the peace during lock changes.
- Rental agreement
- A contract that gives a person the legal right to occupy a dwelling unit on the property.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
PROPERTY POSSESSION AND PROPERTY CRIMES An Act relating to the removal of unlawful occupants from residential real property; relating to the crimes of trespass, forgery, and deceptive business practices; and amending Rules 82 and 85(a), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure.
Official activity
Bill history
- (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to 30 minutes Following Session --Text
- (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
- (H) PRIME SPONSOR CHANGED: G.NELSON REPLACED RAUSCHER1616
- (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
- (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
- (H) REFERRED TO JUDICIARY547
- (H) JUD, L&C547
- (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS547