Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s response regarding the state’s efforts to tackle the region’s squatter crisis sharply contrasts with what state lawmakers and real estate professionals describe as a full-blown war against alleged unauthorized occupants and the online networks profiting from such activities.

Spotlight on Maryland pressed Moore on Thursday after an unrelated news conference in Annapolis about what his administration is doing to immediately address squatting in the state.

“I think you’re seeing how, in Maryland, we’re taking immediate action as well,” Moore said. “We’re working with all of our partners to be able to ensure that people can be safe, that people can be secure, and that laws are being followed.”

Republican State Del. Ryan Nawrocki, of Baltimore County, told Spotlight on Maryland hours later that he could not disagree more with Moore.

“We have done nothing at the state level to address squatting in Maryland,” Nawrocki said. “I understand that the governor is making all kinds of claims about this issue, but at the end of the day, the governor is certainly entitled to his own opinion on the matter, but not entitled to his own set of facts.”

“The facts are that squatting is out of control, and frankly, we have no law-and-order in this state right now, and that is partly the governor’s fault,” Nawrocki added.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said Monday that squatting is a widespread issue requiring state-level changes to ensure accountability and curb the problem.

“What is different, though, is that these folks are doing the advertisement for these things online,” Scott said. “Which we are looking at, if there are ways to hold them responsible legally it may end up being that we have state laws change in the session next year.”

Asked what his administration is doing to tackle the problem locally, the mayor doubled down.

“What we will do is enforce laws based on what we have the authority to do, the City of Baltimore. That’s to arrest people, under Maryland state law, (we) can do just that,” Scott said. “As far as the other stuff, you’re going to have to talk to the folks at the state level, not me.”

“Meanwhile, Moore’s comments on Thursday contradict Scott’s claim that the city has squatting enforcement limitations and that the state government needs to act.”

“I don’t think that there is not a single person or partner we’re not working with to be able to address the issue,” Moore said.

Nawrocki said he has not seen any action from Moore’s administration to address pleas for assistance from real estate professionals and local government officials in the state.

“In my own district, we have instances of squatting right now, as we speak, right in Middle River,” Nawrocki said. “There are organized networks of individuals that are very serious, often engaged with very bad actors, doing really harmful things in our state that is destroying our housing market.”

After speaking with the governor on Thursday, Spotlight on Maryland reviewed multiple accounts advertising “last resort” or “squatter’s homes” on several social media platforms. Ads connecting occupants with homes for a one-time fee, a set of keys, and a manufactured lease agreement allegedly aim to evade eviction when the property owner discovers the unauthorized occupancy persists.

“House deal or no deal today,” one Instagram user wrote. “You tell me what you want to pay to move and I say deal or no deal if we do deal must be money ready.”

Eugene, a Baltimore-area real estate professional who asked to be identified only by his first name for safety reasons, said he felt Moore dismissed the seriousness of the squatting in the state. He said the governor’s inaction is “leaving Maryland behind” in adapting to the elaborate squatting schemes seen in other states and being addressed.

“The governor and the mayor have done absolutely nothing to address the squatter crisis in Baltimore City, the county, or the state,” Eugene said. “Until the issue hits someone in their own circle, they will continue to ignore it.”

“Governor, you say you are working with everyone? You are not working with any landlords, I can assure you that,” Eugene added.

Eugene pointed to a single-family home in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood where an alleged squatter was seen moving his family into the property last week. A real estate agent noticed a moving truck in front of the home and saw furniture that the occupants had moved inside, which was otherwise set to be staged.

“(Property owners) are beyond fed up,” Eugene said. “Without serious leadership, Baltimore and Maryland as a whole will continue to fall behind.”

Governors and state assemblies from both parties in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, and New York have either redefined squatting as a criminal act while targeting organized activities that encourage unauthorized occupancy or passed laws to remove individuals from properties within hours or days.

Nearly all states that have acted have also established “squatter task forces” to address the issue swiftly.

Maryland Sen. Ron Watson, a Prince George’s County Democrat, was the lead sponsor of a bill amending the state’s real estate code to expedite the eviction process for suspected squatters after a property owner or management company files a fraudulent complaint affidavit with law enforcement.

Observers say the legislation, which passed unanimously in the Maryland House and Senate and takes effect in October, might still take at least seven weeks to reach a point where law enforcement can serve an eviction warrant on a suspected squatter.

While Nawrocki applauds Watson’s bill, which was signed into law by Moore, but he said he is concerned that the eviction process may ultimately extend several months beyond the anticipated seven weeks, leaving property owners with little relief.

“The governor has the executive order privilege … he could certainly issue an executive order right now to act in an emergency capacity,” Nawrocki said. “He could also direct various state law enforcement agencies to take stronger action, like the state police.”

Spotlight on Maryland is a partnership between The Baltimore Sun and FOX45 News. Have a news tip? Contact Gary Collins at gmcollins@sbgtv.com.