RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: LEE, M., HOLT, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KITAGAWA, KUSCH, LAMOSAO, OLDS, QUINLAN, TAKAYAMA, TAM, TARNAS, WARD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of July 1, 3000 is likely a placeholder and needs clarification.

Prohibits Encampments Near Schools

This bill makes it illegal to set up tents, shelters, or other temporary living spaces within 100 feet of any K-12 public or private school in Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Defines a 'buffer zone' as the area that is 100 feet from the property line of a K-12 public or private school or school facility.
Makes it against the law to put up, keep, or maintain an encampment within this buffer zone around schools.
Requires people who break this rule to be removed immediately by authorities.

Who It Names or Affects

People who might want to set up an encampment near a school
Schools, including public and private K-12 schools
Law enforcement officers

Terms To Know

Encampment: A tent, makeshift shelter, or any other temporary structure used for habitation.
Buffer zone: The area that is 100 feet from the property line of a K-12 public or private school or school facility where encampments are not allowed.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill does not provide specific penalties for breaking this rule.
It is unclear how enforcement will be carried out in practice.
The effective date of July 1, 3000 seems to be a placeholder and needs clarification.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment creates a law that forbids setting up tents, makeshift shelters, or other temporary living structures within 100 feet of any pre-K-12 public or private school property.

Adds a new chapter to the Hawaii Revised Statutes to define 'buffer zone' and 'encampment'.
Prohibits anyone from placing an encampment within 100 feet of a school's property line, making it against the law to do so.
Requires schools and law enforcement to work together to remove encampments in violation of this rule.

The effective date listed as July 1, 3000 is likely an error or placeholder and should be clarified.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-04 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on EDN with Representative(s) Amato, Grandinetti, Kapela, Perruso, Souza voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kong, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-04 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 62) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EDN.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Amato; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2025-01-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 01-30-25 9:35AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to HSH, EDN, JHA, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.
Encampments; Buffer Zone; Schools; Prohibition
Prohibits the erection, placement, construction, or maintenance of an encampment within one hundred feet from the property line of a pre-K-12 public or private school or school facility on public or private property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB877

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

877

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relatING
to encampments
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that encampments, including tents, makeshift shelters, and
other temporary structures used for habitation, create a complex and pressing
problem when close to school grounds.
�

When close to schools, these encampments can threaten the safety,
health, and overall well-being of students, school staff, and surrounding
communities.
�
Encampments can introduce
environmental hazards, obstruct public access, and pose public safety concerns.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to
prohibit the erection,
placement, construction, or maintenance of an encampment within one hundred
feet from the property line of a K-12 public or private school or school
facility.

����
SECTION
2.
�
The Hawaii Revised Statutes is
amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Chapter

school encampment buffer zone

����
� -1
�
Definitions.
�
As used in this chapter:

����
"Buffer zone" means one hundred
feet from the property line of a K-12 public or private school or school
facility.

����
"Encampment" means a tent,
makeshift shelter, or any other temporary structure used for habitation.

����
� -2
�
Buffer zone; schools.
�
(a)
�
No person shall erect, place, construct, or
maintain an encampment within a buffer zone of a K-12 public or private school
or school facility.

����
(b)
�

Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be subject to immediate
removal.

����
(c)
�

Nothing in this section shall preclude a person from being charged with
a trespassing violation pursuant to chapter 708 or any other violation.

����
(d)
�

The department of education, charter schools, and private schools may
collaborate with law enforcement officers to identify and remove encampments
within the buffer zone.

����
(e)
�

Law enforcement personnel enforcing this section shall provide
information related to temporary housing and homelessness assistance programs
to individuals displaced from encampments."

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Encampments;
Buffer Zone; Schools; Prohibition

Description:

Prohibits the erection, placement, construction, or
maintenance of an encampment within one hundred feet from the property line of
a K-12 public or private school or school facility.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.