State lawmakers are one step away from passing legislation to make it easier for property owners to remove squatters.

The bill would allow property owners to seek immediate removal of a person who is unlawfully occupying a residence.

The owner would have to sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that a person was staying on their property with no prior written or verbal agreement.

Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers says current laws don’t give police the power to determine if a person is lawfully staying in a residence. 

Democratic Rep. Analise Ortiz opposed the bill, saying the way it’s written could hurt victims of domestic abuse. She said it would be hard to prove a verbal agreement allowing someone to stay. 

The bill now goes back to the Senate.