Bexar County constables prepare for new duties under Texas law, enabling faster removal of squatters.
BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County constables are preparing for new responsibilities under recently enacted state laws that allow law enforcement to take faster action against squatters.
As part of the new legislation signed by Governor Greg Abbott in August, Senate Bill 1333 authorizes sheriffs and constables to remove squatters more quickly after a property owner files a sworn complaint and provides documentation showing lawful ownership.
“With the signing of these laws, we are putting squatters in Texas out of business,” Abbott said during the bill signing ceremony.
To meet the new enforcement demands, Bexar County Commissioners recently approved the hiring of four additional constable deputies for each precinct.
Constable Kathryn Brown of Precinct 4 said the new law marks a shift in how her office operates. Right now, constables deal with evictions, criminal warrants, and other things.
“Constables are typically not a call-for-service entity,” Brown said. “This is now the first of its kind for constables to have someone knock on the door or call and say we need service right away.”
Brown said her precinct has seen population growth, which has led to more abandoned properties, and more reports of squatters.
“We are the second largest precinct, but the most populated,” she said. “With more people in our precincts, that means more abandoned properties and more squatters. “It is a learning curve for us, but we are here to assist you.”
Brown also offered insight on squatters in Bexar County.
“When we have a lot of section eight apartments, and they have a lot of vacancies, a lot of people that are homeless they break into the apartments, and they start to live in the apartments,” she said. “A lot of our squatter situation most recently were businesses. They are actually putting tents near businesses, utilizing their electricity and water.”
Brown also mentioned the other challenge is now knowing what could be on the other side of the door.
“We really don’t know what we are going to encounter, each time we approach a squatter,” she said.
Brown said the additional deputies should be hired by early 2026.
“Hopefully with that we will be able to squander this issue,” she said.
According to the county, the timeline to hire the additional help will be up to each constable.