Republican Lawmaker Wants New Squatter List Like the Sex Offender Registry

A Maryland Republican lawmaker, Ryan Nawrocki from Baltimore County, is advocating for a state registry similar to a sex offender registry to track repeat squatters. He believes law enforcement and property owners need a way to identify individuals who repeatedly occupy homes without authorization. The proposed database would not be for a single incident, but rather for those who repeatedly squat over time, allowing authorities to recognize those they encounter.

Nawrocki's proposal follows recent high-profile cases where squatters have occupied homes, sometimes presenting fraudulent leases. One such case involved Germarcco Trayham, a 45-year-old who was allegedly squatting at renovated properties in Baltimore County. Despite providing a lease in both instances, Trayham's involvement in multiple squatting situations was noted in incident reports, and his criminal history included armed robbery, assault, theft, and firearm-related offenses.

Maryland does not currently have a registry in place. Nawrocki introduced a bill in January 2025 to make organized squatting a crime, but it did not pass. The state has seen a rise in squatting cases as housing costs increase, properties remain vacant, and eviction processes become prolonged. Other states, including Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, have passed laws aimed at expediting squatter removal and protecting property owners.