# 119-hr-4182: Housing not Handcuffs Act of 2025

119-hr-4182, Housing not Handcuffs Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4182
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4182
- Congress: 119
- Title: Housing not Handcuffs Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA)
- Cosponsors: 29
- Policy area: Housing and Community Development
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## Summary

**This bill would protect homeless people on Federal public lands by prohibiting penalties for basic, life-sustaining conduct.** It would also create legal remedies and a criminal necessity defense while allowing an exception if suitable indoor space is available.

## Cosponsors (29)

- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-07-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-07-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-08-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2026-02-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Adequate indoor space rules for homeless: benefit, medium. If enacted, adequate indoor space would have clear rules. It would be free, available without daily reapplication, and legally and physically accessible. It would allow disabilities, pets, partners, family, support people, and belongings. It could be a tiny home with locks, climate control, and coo…
- Defense for homeless if no indoor space: benefit, medium. If enacted, a homeless person charged for a life‑sustaining activity could claim a necessity defense if no adequate indoor space was available. The court would have to tell them about this defense. The law would presume no adequate indoor space was available unless the government proves otherwise.
- Protections for homeless on public land: benefit, medium. If enacted, federal agencies would be barred from penalizing homeless people for listed life‑sustaining activities on public land. This includes sleeping, resting, moving freely in places open to the public, and asking for or sharing food, water, or money. It also covers storing belongings with pri…
- Sue to enforce homeless rights: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Attorney General could sue officials in federal court to stop violations. People harmed could sue for court orders and receive costs and reasonable attorney fees if they win. Plaintiffs would not owe costs or fees in non‑frivolous cases. Courts would read the law broadly and would n…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4182 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4182)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2045)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4182 (as of 2026-07-19).