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HB2197Introduced in the House

Relating To Property.

EngrossedSenate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Introduced by Jenna Takenouchi, District 27

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Specifies a process by which property owners may utilize law enforcement officers to remove unauthorized individuals from dwellings. Establishes the criminal offenses of squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property. Makes the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree for a person who knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling or in or upon the premises of a hotel or apartment building a class C felony, rather than a misdemeanor. Classifies the type of property damage typically inflicted by squatters as a form of criminal property damage in the second degree. Classifies the falsification of documentation typically performed by squatters as a form of unsworn falsification to authorities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Where it stands

Referred to CPN/PSM, JDC.

March 12, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

No recorded vote is available for this bill yet.

Bill history

  1. Pending introduction.

  2. Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. Referred to HSH, JHA, referral sheet 5

  4. Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.

  6. Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 526-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

  7. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-04-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  9. The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.

  10. Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1123-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

  11. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.

  12. Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

  13. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 376).

  14. Passed First Reading.

  15. Referred to CPN/PSM, JDC.

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