The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5235 mandates the Commissioner of Transportation to develop a comprehensive plan to address temporary encampments of individuals experiencing homelessness on state highway right-of-ways and properties under the Department of Transportation's control. This plan, which must be created in consultation with various stakeholders including the interagency council on homelessness, municipalities, local housing authorities, and organizations providing emergency shelter and social services, is required to include procedures for respectful outreach and engagement, efforts to offer immediate assistance to emergency shelters, and coordination with local entities before any departmental actions are taken regarding the encampments.

The bill stipulates that the plan must be submitted to the relevant joint standing committee of the General Assembly by January 15, 2027, along with any legislative recommendations necessary for its implementation. The effective date for this act is set for October 1, 2026. Notably, the bill introduces new legal language to establish this requirement while deleting previous provisions that may have been related to the management of homelessness on state properties.