Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has just dropped the hammer on what he has dubbed the “Squatters Scam.”
On Wednesday, the governor signed legislation into law that eliminates “squatters’ rights” in the Sunshine State.
The move also increases penalties against offenders and gives police new powers to remove squatters from Floridians’ homes.
At a Wednesday press conference in Orlando during the signing, DeSantis said:
“You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody’s private property and expect to get away with it.
“We are in the state of Florida ending the squatter scam once and for all.”
The law will take effect on July 1.
Ahead of the signing, DeSantis noted that he believes Florida is the first state in the nation to take squatting issues head-on.
Lawmakers in the state overwhelmingly voted in support of the bill earlier this month.
After it was passed by the state legislature, the bill was sent to DeSantis’s office and the governor signed it into law.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: “Today, I am ENDING the squatters scam in Florida.”
🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/WtwwLauQ8M
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) March 27, 2024
The law outlines that squatters will face criminal charges for illegally moving into a