Published Jul 2, 2026, 12:25 PM EDT
The legislation creates an immediate federal exemption for service members, closing loopholes used by trespassers during military deployments.
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Published Jul 2, 2026, 12:25 PM EDT
Members of the military deployed overseas often leave their homes behind for months. For many, the time away makes them a target for squatters who use state and local laws to wrongly establish certain legal residency rights to a property. U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody (D-Fla.) has introduced a new bill, the Servicemember Residence Protection Act, to protect active-duty military personnel from this growing real estate headache. The bill would make it easier to evict those illegally living in houses owned by those in the Armed Forces, and would limit their so-called "squatters rights," including any established timeframe a squatter could use to claim residency. The Servicemember Residence Protection Act would amend the federal Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, which provides financial and legal protections to active-duty military, reservists and National Guard members. It limits, postpones or pauses foreclosures, evictions and vehicle repossessions, as well as civil court cases. It also caps interest rates at 6% on pre-service loans. "While our service members are deployed overseas, they should be focused on defending our nation and not worried that someone is trying to steal their home," Moody said in a June 29 statement. "This legislation strengthens protection for military families by preventing squatters from taking advantage of service members while they're away serving our country." Florida Rep. Brian Mast, also a Republican, introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives that passed by unanimous consent. Military.com reached out to Moody's office for additional remarks.
