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H1802 • 2025

An Act addressing squatter’s rights

An Act addressing squatter’s rights

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act addressing squatter’s rights

An Act addressing squatter’s rights By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act addressing squatter’s rights By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1802) of Bradley H.
  • Jones, Jr., and others relative to squatter’s rights.
  • The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-10 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/21/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  5. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act addressing squatter’s rights
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1802) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to squatter’s rights. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.1802

SECTION 1. Section 120 of chapter 266 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:-

This section shall not apply to tenants or occupants of residential premises who, having rightfully entered said premises at the commencement of the tenancy or occupancy, continue to legally reside at the property per a lease or written agreement. The owner or landlord of said premises may request from the sheriff of the county in which the property is located the immediate removal of a person or persons occupying the property, provided that:

The property was not open to members of the public at the time the occupant or occupants entered;

The property owner or landlord has directed the occupant or occupants to vacate or leave the property; and

The occupant or occupants have not signed a lease or written agreement entitling them to reside at the property, have remained on the property after their lease or written agreement has expired, or have knowingly and willingly failed to adhere to the terms of the lease or written agreement.

The property owner or landlord may petition the sheriff’s office of the county in which the property is located by presenting a completed and verified complaint to remove persons unlawfully occupying residential real property, which shall verify that the above conditions are met. The owner or landlord may submit this form in writing or complete it online.

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