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HB 5235

AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR THE REMOVAL OF ENCAMPMENTS ON PROPERTY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Saud Anwar and 3 co-sponsors

Connecticut DOT must create a coordinated plan to respond to homelessness on transportation-controlled property through inter-agency collaboration and service connection protocols.

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Bill Summary · HB 5235

Legislative bill overview

HB 5235 requires the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a comprehensive plan and coordinated response strategy for addressing homelessness on property owned or controlled by the department. The bill mandates that DOT work with relevant state agencies and stakeholders to establish protocols, resources, and interventions for persons experiencing homelessness encountered on DOT-managed lands and facilities.

Why is this important

Homelessness on state transportation property—including highway rest areas, parking facilities, and adjacent lands—creates public safety, sanitation, and maintenance challenges while raising humanitarian concerns about vulnerable populations. A coordinated departmental response can standardize how DOT staff interact with unhoused individuals, connect them with social services, and address immediate welfare needs rather than relying solely on enforcement or removal approaches.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and resource allocation: Developing and implementing a homelessness response plan requires dedicated funding, staff training, and potential partnerships with social service agencies; fiscal impact on DOT's existing budget is unclear
  • Scope and enforcement balance: Defining where DOT's responsibility ends and where law enforcement or social services take over; potential tensions between property management/safety objectives and social service goals
  • Effectiveness of coordination: Success depends on voluntary cooperation from multiple state agencies (mental health, social services, housing); without binding authority or incentives, coordination may be ineffective

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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