Housing not Handcuffs Act of 2025

This bill would stop federal agencies from punishing people for being homeless on federal public land. It protects everyday actions like sleeping, sitting, eating, moving around, practicing religion, asking for or sharing food or money, and keeping personal belongings private from unreasonable searches. It also lets people stay in a legally parked car or RV, move it before a ticket or tow, and retrieve items or the vehicle at a free or reduced cost based on ability to pay.

There’s a limit: sleeping or other “life-sustaining” activities on public land can be restricted only if a truly adequate indoor option is available. That option must be free, accessible, safe, available without daily reapplication, and able to include disabilities, pets, partners, family, support people, and belongings. It can be a tiny home with locks, climate control, and bathrooms/cooking, or a permitted parking area with sanitary facilities. If the space is in another area, free transportation must be provided. If someone is charged anyway, they can tell the court they had no indoor place to go; the court must inform them of this defense, and it’s assumed no adequate space was available unless shown otherwise. People and the U.S. Attorney General can go to court to stop violations, and winning individuals get their costs and attorney fees covered. “Public land” here includes places like plazas, sidewalks, parking lots, transit facilities, underpasses, and parks .

Key points

• Who is affected: People without housing on federal public land, and federal agencies and officials who enforce rules there.
• What changes: No penalties for listed basic activities; privacy for belongings; ability to stay in a legally parked car/RV and retrieve it if towed; strong right to sue to stop violations and recover fees; a defense if no real indoor option exists .
• Where it applies: Federal public lands and public areas like plazas, sidewalks, parking lots, transit sites, underpasses, and parks.
• When: The text does not state a start date; it sets rules that would apply once in effect.