On Monday, April 8, the Minnesota Senate narrowly approved a controversial housing bill, SF 3492, that fails to protect the rights of property owners

During the floor debate, Republicans offered an amendment that would have stripped cities of their Local Government Aid if they fail to enforce existing squatter laws. The amendment was an attempt to proactively address an issue that has become a target of exploitation in other areas of the country. The Senate Democrat majority voted the amendment down.

Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) released the following video and statement on this amendment:

This commonsense amendment is about property rights and not allowing trespassers on someone’s property. Squatting is an illegal act that goes against the core principles of property rights, which our country was founded upon. 

As a property owner, you should have the freedom to do what you and your family want with that property. It’s important to emphasize that squatting and illegal trespassing are strictly prohibited in our state and in our nation.