House passes bill creating 300-foot drug-free zones at homeless service facilities

The House approved House File 2584, establishing 300‑foot drug‑free zones around publicly funded facilities that provide homeless services and adding aggravated penalties for certain categories of conduct.

Representative Polk (sponsor) described the bill’s purpose as protecting vulnerable people seeking assistance at shelters and treatment facilities and clarified the measure does not target homeless individuals using services (SEG 1090–1118). The bill as introduced included penalties and signage provisions patterned after existing drug‑free school‑zone law; sponsors said the measure applies only when operators knowingly or intentionally allow illegal drug activity.

Lawmakers adopted amendments to clarify unlawful transfer and to exempt specified facilities — including domestic‑abuse shelters and certain children's shelters — from signage requirements (amendments H8035 and H8050; SEG 1159–1190). Representative Levin remained skeptical, warning the bill could make some service providers ineligible for grants and could have the unintended effect of reducing available services for people experiencing homelessness (SEG 1205–1255). Polk responded the bill requires mens rea (a guilty mind) for operator penalties and does not automatically disqualify facilities from all funding sources (SEG 1260–1271).

The House recorded the bill’s final passage (transcript roll-call tallies announced in the record). The bill will move to the Senate.