This bill (House Bill 2589, 69th Legislature, 2026 Regular Session) creates a new section in chapter 28B.10 RCW that generally prohibits camping on the campuses of institutions of higher education except as allowed by the section. It allows only registered student organizations in good standing or recognized bargaining units to request authorization for encampments, requires 21 days’ prior notice to the institution, permits institutions to approve or deny encampments on time, place, and manner grounds in a content-neutral process, and requires any permitted encampment to serve an academic purpose. Institutions must adopt rules to implement the new section. The bill adds procedural and enforcement rules: institutional representatives may order immediate dismantling and vacating of unauthorized encampments, inform occupants that refusal may constitute criminal trespass, report incidents to local law enforcement, and initiate student disciplinary action under the institution’s code of conduct. Law enforcement, peace officers, or campus security may remove violators in accordance with local laws and ordinances. Individuals are civilly liable for damages and for direct and indirect costs of removal and campus restoration, and for repair of destruction resulting from intentional or negligent conduct related to an encampment. This is a new statutory provision establishing procedural controls, enforcement authority, and civil liability related to campus encampments rather than creating a new criminal offense in this text. The section references existing trespass law and RCW 28B.92.030 for the definition of “institution of higher education.” The text provided does not include an effective date, does not define “good standing” for student organizations, does not define what qualifies as an “academic purpose,” and does not specify the standards for the institution’s “content-neutral” authorization process.

If enacted, campuses would no longer tolerate spontaneous or unauthorized camping: student groups and bargaining units would have to give 21 days notice and get institutional approval tied to an academic purpose or face immediate dismantling, trespass reports, discipline under student codes, and liability for cleanup or damage. Colleges and universities will have to create and apply new rules, use campus security and local police more often to remove noncompliant encampments, and may redirect staff time and resources to reviewing requests and enforcing removals. The people most affected are registered student organizations and recognized bargaining units (who lose the option to camp without prior approval), students who refuse to leave (who face discipline and possible criminal trespass), and institutions (which pick up rulemaking, enforcement responsibility, and coordination with law enforcement). Individuals could incur direct costs for damages or removal. Important details are missing from the text provided—there’s no effective date, no clear definition of “good standing,” “academic purpose,” or the content-neutral standards institutions must use—so how strictly and quickly these changes are applied could vary.