Bill > HB225

This bill establishes a working group within the Department of the Attorney General to comprehensively study the issue of squatting in Hawaii, which is defined as the unlawful occupation and use of a building or land without permission or ownership rights. The working group will be composed of various stakeholders including government officials, law enforcement representatives, legal professionals, and housing advocates, and will be tasked with analyzing different squatting scenarios such as vacant properties, foreclosure situations, and disputes between property owners and occupants. The group's responsibilities include developing a clear definition of squatting, identifying circumstances where squatting occurs, creating recommendations for prevention and resolution, examining policy and legislative considerations related to trespass and tenant rights, and analyzing community impacts. Members will serve without compensation but will be reimbursed for expenses, and the working group is required to submit a preliminary report before the 2026 legislative session and a final report before the 2027 legislative session, after which the group will be dissolved. The bill recognizes the legal complexities surrounding squatting, particularly when property owners cannot be contacted or when there are competing claims about occupancy rights, and aims to develop more efficient processes for addressing these challenges.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=225&year=2026