Maryland Delegate Ryan Nawrocki has proposed a state registry to track repeat squatters, saying it could function similarly to sex-offender lists so police and homeowners can identify recurring offenders. The idea follows Baltimore County incidents involving a man accused of using questionable leases. Lawmakers recently passed a bipartisan measure to criminalize counterfeit residential leases — punishable by up to 10 years — which takes effect in October. Nawrocki’s separate bill to criminalize organized squatting failed to pass.
Maryland Lawmaker Proposes Registry for Repeat Squatters Modeled on Sex-Offender Lists
Resident Marie Salas, left, sets a banner on her home fence reading "Squatting is not the Answer," across the street from a formerly vacant home that was taken by a group of homeless mothers in Los Angeles on March 30, 2020.
Maryland Delegate Ryan Nawrocki is pushing for a state-managed registry that would track people accused of repeatedly occupying homes without authorization, saying such a database would help law enforcement and property owners identify repeat offenders quickly.
How the Registry Would Work
The proposal, Nawrocki told Spotlight on Maryland, "could look a lot like a sex offender registry." Those registries are government-run systems that require listed individuals to provide up-to-date personal information; in many states the records are searchable by name or location. Nawrocki emphasized the registry would target repeat incidents — not one-off cases — so police "know who they are dealing with when they come to a property." Newsweek reached out to Nawrocki for comment.
Recent Incidents Fueling the Push
The proposal follows a recent Baltimore County incident in which police arrived at a renovated house reportedly occupied by 45-year-old Germarcco Dante Trayham. Officers say Trayham presented a lease; Spotlight on Maryland reported a similar episode in January in which parts of a presented lease — including the address, phone number and landlord information — appeared inconsistent and the listed landlord could not be verified. Maryland court records reviewed by Newsweek indicate Trayham has a criminal history that includes armed robbery, assault, theft and firearm-related offenses. Newsweek also contacted Baltimore County Police for comment.
Legislative Context
Lawmakers recently approved bipartisan legislation aimed at cracking down on counterfeit residential leases used in some squatting cases. Under that measure — set to take effect in October — individuals who create fake leases with the intent to defraud could face felony charges punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Maryland does not currently maintain a registry of repeat squatters.
In January 2025 Nawrocki introduced HB202, which would make organized squatting a crime. He argued the bill was needed so "a family should never have to fight in civil court for months to get strangers out of the home they own." That bill did not pass.
Broader Trends
Comprehensive national data on squatting are limited, but housing groups and lawmakers say concern has grown amid rising housing costs, vacant properties and lengthy eviction processes. A 2024 survey by the National Rental Home Council found more than 1,800 homes occupied by squatters among its members across three major metropolitan areas. States including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee have passed laws to speed removal of squatters and strengthen protections for property owners.
Bottom Line: Nawrocki's registry proposal aims to give authorities and homeowners a tool to identify repeat squatters quickly, but it raises questions about civil liberties, implementation and accuracy that would need to be resolved if policymakers move forward.
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