TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following a new law last year aimed at helping homeowners get rid of squatters, Florida lawmakers are now pushing to expand those rules.

Filed back in January, Senate Bill 322 would create a new procedure under which unauthorized people could be removed from a commercial property, such as an apartment complex or office building.

However, SB 322 would extend these rules to include commercial properties — a fact brought up during a state Senate committee meeting last week.

“Are you telling me right now law enforcement can’t remove somebody off of commercial property if the property owner asked law enforcement to remove them from the property?” asked Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-33.

“That is correct,” responded the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ana Rodriguez, R-40. “We took it upon ourselves last Legislative session to correct this for residential properties, and now, we’re going to do the same for commercial.”

Just as with residential homes in the state, the bill would allow commercial property owners to remove squatters via nonjudicial means, hastening the process.

To do so, property owners would simply have to submit the proper complaint form — titled “Complaint to Remove Persons Unlawfully Occupying Commercial Real Property” — to their local sheriff’s office.

Upon verification, deputies would then have to immediately notify the unwanted person that he/she has to leave. However, the property owner would still have to pay the sheriff’s office a civil eviction fee and hourly rate to have a deputy stand by and keep the peace while the person is removed.

In addition, the bill would set up criminal penalties in line with those created under last year’s law , expanding squatter penalties to include such incidents at commercial properties.

During a Senate Rules meeting on Wednesday morning, SB 322 was approved by unanimous vote, putting it one step closer to consideration by the state Legislature at large.

A similar bill filed in the House ( HB 213 ) by Rep. Peggy Gossett-Siedman, R-91, was approved by a Legislative subcommittee on Thursday afternoon by a vote of 15-2.

“This bill provides law enforcement with the availability to work with landlords and building owners to access buildings where nefarious or suspected unlawful activities are taking place. This includes human trafficking, unlawful drug activities, squatting and other unlawful entry.

The bill mirrors the bill passed last session for private homes and is an asset to keeping our communities safe and clear of criminal activities.”

According to Gossett-Siedman, the bill would also enhance several of the criminal penalties associated with last year’s squatting law.

If approved and signed into law, both of these bills would take effect on July 1.