Senate Bill
SB 157
Protection of property rights.
In plain English
Defines a "squatter" as someone who occupies another person's property without a rental agreement, the owner's permission, or any other legal interest. Lets an owner sign an affidavit (a sworn written statement) saying a squatter is on the property, and requires police to remove the squatter within 48 hours unless officers find credible evidence the person is not a squatter. Gives police certain legal protections, creates a way to sue for wrongful removal, and makes other changes.
Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.
Official digest
Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the property of another and who does not have and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the property. Permits a property owner to execute an affidavit stating that a squatter is occupying the person's property, and requires a law enforcement agency to dispatch one or more law enforcement officers to remove the squatter within 48 hours (or a later period if necessary for reasons of public safety). Provides that a property owner can execute an affidavit at the time a law enforcement officer responds to a complaint that a squatter is occupying the owner's property. Requires a dispatched law enforcement officer to remove the squatter from the property unless the law enforcement officer discovers credible evidence that the person is not a squatter. Provides that a law enforcement agency may create a form affidavit. Provides certain immunities to a law enforcement agency and a law enforcement officer. Establishes a cause of action for wrongful removal from property.
Latest action: Signed by the Governor, May 6, 2025Full text and history at iga.in.gov
Authors and sponsors
Mike Gaskill, Scott Baldwin, Mike Young, Joanna King
Co-authors and co-sponsors: Lonnie Randolph, Aaron Freeman, Gary Byrne, Blake Doriot, Linda Rogers, David Niezgodski, Michelle Davis, David Abbott, Tim O'Brien
Roll-call votes
5 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.
Senate · Jan 30, 2025
Second reading: amendment
Roll call text: SB 157 - Gaskill - 2nd Reading
Failed
8 yes40 no2 did not vote
Republicans: 0 yes, 38 no, 1 did not voteDemocrats: 8 yes, 1 no, 1 did not voteNot matched to a current member: 0 yes, 1 no
How each member voted
Yes (8)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
No (40)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Walker (R)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vaneta Becker (R)
Did not vote (2)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Justin Busch (R)
Senate · Feb 3, 2025
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 157 - Gaskill - 3rd Reading
Passed
48 yes1 no1 did not vote
Republicans: 39 yes, 0 noDemocrats: 8 yes, 1 no, 1 did not voteNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (48)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vaneta Becker (R)
No (1)
- Rodney Pol (D)
Did not vote (1)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
House · Mar 31, 2025
Third reading: vote to pass
Roll call text: SB 157 - King - 3rd Reading
Passed
74 yes18 no8 did not vote
Republicans: 65 yes, 0 no, 5 did not voteDemocrats: 9 yes, 16 no, 3 did not voteIndependents: 0 yes, 1 noNot matched to a current member: 0 yes, 1 no
How each member voted
Yes (74)
- Alaina Shonkwiler (R)
- Alex Zimmerman (R)
- Andrew Ireland (R)
- Becky Cash (R)
- Ben Smaltz (R)
- Bob Behning (R)
- Bob Heaton (R)
- Bob Morris (R)
- Brad Barrett (R)
- Bruce Borders (R)
- Carey Hamilton (D)
- Chris Jeter (R)
- Chris Judy (R)
- Chris May (R)
- Chuck Moseley (D)
- Cindy Ledbetter (R)
- Cory Criswell (R)
- Craig Haggard (R)
- Craig Snow (R)
- Dale DeVon (R)
- Danny Lopez (R)
- Dave Hall (R)
- Dave Heine (R)
- David Abbott (R)
- Doug Miller (R)
- Ed Soliday (R)
- Elizabeth Rowray (R)
- Ethan Lawson (R)
- Ethan Manning (R)
- Garrett Bascom (R)
- Greg Steuerwald (R)
- Hal Slager (R)
- Heath VanNatter (R)
- Hunter Smith (R)
- J.D. Prescott (R)
- Jack Jordan (R)
- Jake Teshka (R)
- Jeff Thompson (R)
- Jenny Meltzer (R)
- Jim Lucas (R)
- Jim Pressel (R)
- Joanna King (R)
- Julie McGuire (R)
- Julie Olthoff (R)
- Justin Moed (D)
- Karen Engleman (R)
- Kendell Culp (R)
- Kyle Miller (D)
- Kyle Pierce (R)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
- Lorissa Sweet (R)
- Mark Genda (R)
- Martin Carbaugh (R)
- Matt Commons (R)
- Matt Hostettler (R)
- Matt Lehman (R)
- Michelle Davis (R)
- Mike Andrade (D)
- Mike Aylesworth (R)
- Peggy Mayfield (R)
- Phil GiaQuinta (D)
- Robb Greene (R)
- Robin Shackleford (D)
- Ryan Lauer (R)
- Shane Lindauer (R)
- Steve Bartels (R)
- Tim O'Brien (R)
- Tim Wesco (R)
- Tim Yocum (R)
- Tony Isa (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D)
- Wendy Dant Chesser (D)
- Wendy McNamara (R)
- Zach Payne (R)
No (18)
- Alex Burton (D)
- Carolyn Jackson (D)
- Cherrish Pryor (D)
- Chris Campbell (D)
- Earl Harris (D)
- Ed Clere (I)
- Ed DeLaney (D)
- Gregory Porter (D)
- John Bartlett (D)
- Matt Pierce (D)
- Maureen Bauer (D)
- Ragen Hatcher (D)
- Ryan Dvorak (D)
- Sheila Klinker (D)
- Sue Errington (D)
- Unknown member
- Vanessa Summers (D)
- Vernon Smith (D)
Did not vote (8)
- Beau Baird (R)
- Lindsay Patterson (R)
- Mike Karickhoff (R)
- Mitch Gore (D)
- Reneé Pack (D)
- Todd Huston (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
Senate · Apr 24, 2025
Final vote: concurrence or conference report
Roll call text: SB 157 - Gaskill
Passed
50 yes0 no
Republicans: 39 yes, 0 noDemocrats: 10 yes, 0 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (50)
- Aaron Freeman (R)
- Andrea Hunley (D)
- Blake Doriot (R)
- Brett Clark (R)
- Brian Buchanan (R)
- Chris Garten (R)
- Cyndi Carrasco (R)
- Dan Dernulc (R)
- Daryl Schmitt (R)
- David Niezgodski (D)
- Ed Charbonneau (R)
- Eric Bassler (R)
- Eric Koch (R)
- Fady Qaddoura (D)
- Gary Byrne (R)
- Greg Goode (R)
- Greg Taylor (D)
- Greg Walker (R)
- J.D. Ford (D)
- Jean Leising (R)
- Jeff Raatz (R)
- Jim Buck (R)
- Jim Tomes (R)
- Justin Busch (R)
- Kyle Walker (R)
- La Keisha Jackson (D)
- Linda Rogers (R)
- Liz Brown (R)
- Lonnie Randolph (D)
- Mark Spencer (D)
- Michael Crider (R)
- Mike Bohacek (R)
- Mike Gaskill (R)
- Mike Young (R)
- Randy Maxwell (R)
- Rick Niemeyer (R)
- Rod Bray (R)
- Rodney Pol (D)
- Ron Alting (R)
- Ryan Mishler (R)
- Scott Alexander (R)
- Scott Baldwin (R)
- Shelli Yoder (D)
- Spencer Deery (R)
- Stacey Donato (R)
- Sue Glick (R)
- Travis Holdman (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
- Unknown member
- Vaneta Becker (R)
House · Apr 24, 2025
Final vote: concurrence or conference report
Roll call text: SB 157 - King
Passed
84 yes6 no10 did not vote
Republicans: 64 yes, 0 no, 6 did not voteDemocrats: 19 yes, 5 no, 4 did not voteIndependents: 0 yes, 1 noNot matched to a current member: 1 yes, 0 no
How each member voted
Yes (84)
- Alaina Shonkwiler (R)
- Alex Zimmerman (R)
- Andrew Ireland (R)
- Ben Smaltz (R)
- Bob Behning (R)
- Bob Heaton (R)
- Brad Barrett (R)
- Bruce Borders (R)
- Carey Hamilton (D)
- Chris Campbell (D)
- Chris Jeter (R)
- Chris Judy (R)
- Chris May (R)
- Chuck Moseley (D)
- Cindy Ledbetter (R)
- Cory Criswell (R)
- Craig Haggard (R)
- Craig Snow (R)
- Dale DeVon (R)
- Danny Lopez (R)
- Dave Hall (R)
- Dave Heine (R)
- David Abbott (R)
- Doug Miller (R)
- Earl Harris (D)
- Ed Soliday (R)
- Elizabeth Rowray (R)
- Ethan Lawson (R)
- Ethan Manning (R)
- Garrett Bascom (R)
- Greg Steuerwald (R)
- Hal Slager (R)
- Heath VanNatter (R)
- Hunter Smith (R)
- J.D. Prescott (R)
- Jack Jordan (R)
- Jake Teshka (R)
- Jeff Thompson (R)
- Jenny Meltzer (R)
- Jim Lucas (R)
- Jim Pressel (R)
- Joanna King (R)
- John Bartlett (D)
- Julie McGuire (R)
- Julie Olthoff (R)
- Justin Moed (D)
- Karen Engleman (R)
- Kendell Culp (R)
- Kyle Miller (D)
- Kyle Pierce (R)
- Lindsay Patterson (R)
- Lori Goss-Reaves (R)
- Lorissa Sweet (R)
- Mark Genda (R)
- Martin Carbaugh (R)
- Matt Commons (R)
- Matt Hostettler (R)
- Matt Lehman (R)
- Maureen Bauer (D)
- Michelle Davis (R)
- Mike Andrade (D)
- Mike Aylesworth (R)
- Mitch Gore (D)
- Peggy Mayfield (R)
- Phil GiaQuinta (D)
- Robb Greene (R)
- Robin Shackleford (D)
- Ryan Lauer (R)
- Shane Lindauer (R)
- Sheila Klinker (D)
- Steve Bartels (R)
- Sue Errington (D)
- Tim O'Brien (R)
- Tim Wesco (R)
- Tim Yocum (R)
- Tony Isa (R)
- Tonya Pfaff (D)
- Unknown member
- Vanessa Summers (D)
- Vernon Smith (D)
- Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D)
- Wendy Dant Chesser (D)
- Wendy McNamara (R)
- Zach Payne (R)
No (6)
- Alex Burton (D)
- Cherrish Pryor (D)
- Ed Clere (I)
- Ed DeLaney (D)
- Gregory Porter (D)
- Matt Pierce (D)
Did not vote (10)
- Beau Baird (R)
- Becky Cash (R)
- Bob Morris (R)
- Carolyn Jackson (D)
- Mike Karickhoff (R)
- Ragen Hatcher (D)
- Reneé Pack (D)
- Ryan Dvorak (D)
- Todd Huston (R)
- Tyler Johnson (R)
Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.