2001 Legislation
Print Friendly

SENATE BILL NO. 1156 – Property, adverse possession

SENATE BILL NO. 1156

View Daily Data Tracking History

View Bill Text

View Amendment

View Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Daily Data Tracking History



S1156aa....................................by LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION
PROPERTY - ADVERSE POSSESSION - Amends existing law to provide that adverse
possession shall not be considered established if a written instrument has
been recorded in the real estate records kept by the county recorder of the
county in which the property is located and such written instrument
declares that it was not the intent of a party, by permitting possession or
occupation of real property, to thereby define property boundaries or
ownership; and to provide that a person claiming adverse possession must
present clear and convincing evidence that certain requirements have been
met.
                                                                        
02/12    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/13    Rpt prt - to Loc Gov
02/20    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/21    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/26    To 14th Ord
03/08    Rpt out amen - to engros
03/09    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/12    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/13    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 33-0-2
      AYES -- Andreason, Boatright, Branch(Bartlett), Brandt, Bunderson,
      Burtenshaw, Cameron, Danielson, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin,
      Frasure, Geddes, Goedde, Hawkins, Ingram, Ipsen, Keough,
      King-Barrutia, Lee, Lodge, Richardson, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder,
      Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne, Wheeler, Whitworth, Williams,
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Noh, Sims
    Floor Sponsor -- Wheeler
    Title apvd - to House
03/14    House intro - 1st rdg - to Loc Gov
03/21    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg as amen
03/22    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg as amen
03/26    3rd rdg as amen - PASSED - 64-2-4
      AYES -- Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Bieter, Black, Boe, Bolz,
      Bradford, Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Chase, Clark, Collins, Crow,
      Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Ellis, Ellsworth, Eskridge, Field(13), Gagner,
      Gould, Hadley, Hammond, Hansen, Harwood, Henbest(Farley), Higgins,
      Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Kellogg, Kendell, Kunz, Lake, Langford,
      Mader, Marley, McKague, Meyer, Montgomery, Mortensen, Moss, Pearce,
      Pomeroy, Raybould, Ridinger, Roberts, Robison, Sali, Schaefer,
      Sellman, Shepherd, Smylie, Stevenson, Stone, Tilman, Trail, Wood,
      Young, Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- Moyle, Smith
      Absent and excused -- Field(20), Loertscher, Pischner, Wheeler
    Floor Sponsor -- Higgins
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/28    To enrol
    Rpt enrol - Pres signed
03/29    Sp signed - to Governor
04/02    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 290
         Effective: 01/01/01

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                                    SENATE BILL NO. 1156
                                                                        
                         BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO ADVERSE POSSESSION OF REAL PROPERTY; AMENDING SECTIONS  5-208  AND
  3        5-210, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT ADVERSE POSSESSION SHALL NOT BE CONSID-
  4        ERED  ESTABLISHED  IF  A  WRITTEN INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN RECORDED IN THE REAL
  5        ESTATE RECORDS KEPT BY THE COUNTY RECORDER OF  THE  COUNTY  IN  WHICH  THE
  6        PROPERTY  IS  LOCATED AND SUCH WRITTEN INSTRUMENT DECLARES THAT IT WAS NOT
  7        THE INTENT OF A PARTY, BY PERMITTING  POSSESSION  OR  OCCUPATION  OF  REAL
  8        PROPERTY, TO THEREBY DEFINE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL COR-
  9        RECTIONS.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION  1.  That  Section  5-208,  Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 12    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 13        5-208.  CLAIM UNDER WRITTEN INSTRUMENT -- POSSESSION DEFINED.  (1)  Except
 14    as  provided in subsection (2) of this section, fFor the purpose of constitut-
 15    ing an adverse possession by a person claiming a title founded upon a  written
 16    instrument, or a judgment or decree, land is deemed to have been possessed and
 17    occupied in the following cases:
 18        1.(a)  Where it has been usually cultivated or improved.
 19        2.(b)  Where it has been protected by a substantial inclosure enclosure.
 20        3.(c)  Where,  although  not  inclosed  enclosed, it has been used for the
 21    supply of fuel, or of fencing timber for the purposes  of  husbandry,  or  for
 22    pasturage, or for the ordinary use of the occupant.
 23        4.(d)  Where a known farm or single lot has been partly improved, the por-
 24    tion  of such farm or lot that may have been left not cleared, or not inclosed
 25    enclosed, according to the usual course and custom of the  adjoining  country,
 26    shall  be deemed to have been occupied for the same length of time as the part
 27    improved and cultivated.
 28        (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection  (1)  of  this  section,
 29    adverse possession shall not be considered established under the provisions of
 30    any  sections  of  this  code if a written instrument has been recorded in the
 31    real estate records kept by the county recorder of the  county  in  which  the
 32    property  is  located and such written instrument declares that it was not the
 33    intent of a party, by permitting possession or occupation of real property  as
 34    set forth in subsection (1) of this section, to thereby define property bound-
 35    aries.
                                                                        
 36        SECTION  2.  That  Section  5-210,  Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 37    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 38        5-210.  ORAL CLAIM -- POSSESSION DEFINED -- PAYMENT OF TAXES. For the pur-
 39    pose of constituting an adverse possession, by a  person  claiming  title  not
 40    founded  upon a written instrument, judgment or decree, land is deemed to have
 41    been possessed and occupied in the following cases only:
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        (1.)  Where it has been protected by a substantial inclosure enclosure.
  2        (2.)  Where it has been usually cultivated or improved.
  3        Provided, however, that in no case shall adverse possession be  considered
  4    established  under the provisions of any sections of this code unless it shall
  5    be shown that the land has been occupied and claimed for the  period  of  five
  6    (5)  years  continuously,  and  the  party  or persons, their predecessors and
  7    grantors, have paid all the taxes, state, county or municipal, which have been
  8    levied and assessed upon such land according to law.  Provided  further,  that
  9    adverse possession shall not be considered established under the provisions of
 10    any  sections  of  this  code if a written instrument has been recorded in the
 11    real estate records kept by the county recorder of the  county  in  which  the
 12    property  is  located and such written instrument declares that it was not the
 13    intent of a party, by permitting possession or occupation of real property, to
 14    thereby define property boundaries.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Wheeler             
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Bunderson           
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                             SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. NO. 1156
                                                                        
                                                                        
  1                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1
  2        On page 1 of the printed bill, in line 33, following "party"  insert:  "to
  3    such instrument"; delete line 35, and insert: "aries or ownership.
  4        (3)  For purposes of establishing adverse possession pursuant to this sec-
  5    tion,  a  person claiming adverse possession must present clear and convincing
  6    evidence that the requirements of subsections (1) or (2) of this section  have
  7    been met.".
                                                                        
  8                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 2
  9        On  page 2, in line 13, following "party" insert: "to such instrument"; in
 10    line 14, following "boundaries" insert: "or ownership.  Provided further, that
 11    for purposes of establishing adverse possession pursuant to  this  section,  a
 12    person  claiming adverse possession must present clear and convincing evidence
 13    that the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) of this section have been met".
                                                                        
 14                                AMENDMENT TO THE BILL
 15        On page 2, following line 14, insert:
 16        "SECTION 3.  An emergency existing therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
 17    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
 18    passage and approval, and retroactively to January 1, 2001.".
                                                                        
 19                                 CORRECTIONS TO TITLE
 20        On  page  1, in line 7, following "PARTY" insert: "TO SUCH INSTRUMENT"; in
 21    line 8, following "BOUNDARIES" insert: "OR OWNERSHIP, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON
 22    CLAIMING ADVERSE POSSESSION MUST PRESENT CLEAR AND  CONVINCING  EVIDENCE  THAT
 23    CERTAIN  REQUIREMENTS  HAVE  BEEN  MET";  and  in line 9, following "RECTIONS"
 24    insert: "; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING RETROACTIVE APPLICATION".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  First Regular Session - 2001
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       IN THE SENATE
                                                                        
                              SENATE BILL NO. 1156, As Amended
                                                                        
                         BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO ADVERSE POSSESSION OF REAL PROPERTY; AMENDING SECTIONS  5-208  AND
  3        5-210, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT ADVERSE POSSESSION SHALL NOT BE CONSID-
  4        ERED  ESTABLISHED  IF  A  WRITTEN INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN RECORDED IN THE REAL
  5        ESTATE RECORDS KEPT BY THE COUNTY RECORDER OF  THE  COUNTY  IN  WHICH  THE
  6        PROPERTY  IS  LOCATED AND SUCH WRITTEN INSTRUMENT DECLARES THAT IT WAS NOT
  7        THE INTENT OF A PARTY TO SUCH  INSTRUMENT,  BY  PERMITTING  POSSESSION  OR
  8        OCCUPATION OF REAL PROPERTY, TO THEREBY DEFINE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES OR OWN-
  9        ERSHIP,  TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON CLAIMING ADVERSE POSSESSION MUST PRESENT
 10        CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET  AND
 11        TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING RETRO-
 12        ACTIVE APPLICATION.
                                                                        
 13    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 14        SECTION  1.  That  Section  5-208,  Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 15    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 16        5-208.  CLAIM UNDER WRITTEN INSTRUMENT -- POSSESSION DEFINED.  (1)  Except
 17    as  provided in subsection (2) of this section, fFor the purpose of constitut-
 18    ing an adverse possession by a person claiming a title founded upon a  written
 19    instrument, or a judgment or decree, land is deemed to have been possessed and
 20    occupied in the following cases:
 21        1.(a)  Where it has been usually cultivated or improved.
 22        2.(b)  Where it has been protected by a substantial inclosure enclosure.
 23        3.(c)  Where,  although  not  inclosed  enclosed, it has been used for the
 24    supply of fuel, or of fencing timber for the purposes  of  husbandry,  or  for
 25    pasturage, or for the ordinary use of the occupant.
 26        4.(d)  Where a known farm or single lot has been partly improved, the por-
 27    tion  of such farm or lot that may have been left not cleared, or not inclosed
 28    enclosed, according to the usual course and custom of the  adjoining  country,
 29    shall  be deemed to have been occupied for the same length of time as the part
 30    improved and cultivated.
 31        (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection  (1)  of  this  section,
 32    adverse possession shall not be considered established under the provisions of
 33    any  sections  of  this  code if a written instrument has been recorded in the
 34    real estate records kept by the county recorder of the  county  in  which  the
 35    property  is  located and such written instrument declares that it was not the
 36    intent of a party to such instrument, by permitting possession  or  occupation
 37    of  real  property  as set forth in subsection (1) of this section, to thereby
 38    define property boundaries or ownership.
 39        (3)  For purposes of establishing adverse possession pursuant to this sec-
 40    tion, a person claiming adverse possession must present clear  and  convincing
 41    evidence  that the requirements of subsections (1) or (2) of this section have
 42    been met.
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1        SECTION 2.  That Section 5-210, Idaho Code, be, and  the  same  is  hereby
  2    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
  3        5-210.  ORAL CLAIM -- POSSESSION DEFINED -- PAYMENT OF TAXES. For the pur-
  4    pose  of  constituting  an  adverse possession, by a person claiming title not
  5    founded upon a written instrument, judgment or decree, land is deemed to  have
  6    been possessed and occupied in the following cases only:
  7        (1.)  Where it has been protected by a substantial inclosure enclosure.
  8        (2.)  Where it has been usually cultivated or improved.
  9        Provided,  however, that in no case shall adverse possession be considered
 10    established under the provisions of any sections of this code unless it  shall
 11    be  shown  that  the land has been occupied and claimed for the period of five
 12    (5) years continuously, and the  party  or  persons,  their  predecessors  and
 13    grantors, have paid all the taxes, state, county or municipal, which have been
 14    levied  and  assessed  upon such land according to law. Provided further, that
 15    adverse possession shall not be considered established under the provisions of
 16    any sections of this code if a written instrument has  been  recorded  in  the
 17    real  estate  records  kept  by the county recorder of the county in which the
 18    property is located and such written instrument declares that it was  not  the
 19    intent  of  a party to such instrument, by permitting possession or occupation
 20    of real property, to thereby define property boundaries or ownership. Provided
 21    further, that for purposes of establishing adverse possession pursuant to this
 22    section, a person claiming adverse possession must present clear and  convinc-
 23    ing  evidence  that  the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) of this section
 24    have been met.
                                                                        
 25        SECTION 3.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
 26    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
 27    passage and approval, and retroactively to January 1, 2001.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                
                            RS 10998
                                
Prohibits use of the old common-law doctrine of adverse
possession from consideration in filing suits to resolve boundary
disputes in two sections of Idaho Code. Section 1, amending 5-
208, Idaho Code applies when a person claims a title founded upon
a written instrument or a judgement or decree. Section 2,
amending 5-210, Idaho Code applies when claiming title founded
upon a written instrument or a judgement or decree. Between these
two sections, there were over 100 citations, indicating the
vagueness and uncertainty of present code. Government agencies,
by law cannot be subjected to the doctrine of adverse possession.
Private property should not be exposed to such uncertainty.

                                FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to any state agency.


Contact
       Name:  Sen. Wheeler 332-1409
       Phone: Sen. Bunderson 332-1000











STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                  S 115