New Law Reshapes Rules for Life on Arizona’s College Campuses

PHOENIX — Governor Katie Hobbs has enacted new legislation that prohibits the establishment of encampments on Arizona’s college campuses. The move comes in response to recent pro-Palestine protests where demonstrators erected tents.

House Bill 2880 authorizes law enforcement to remove any encampment and individuals violating this ban. Under this new law, “encampment” is defined as temporary shelters, including tents, used for overnight stays or longer.

Campus administrators are now tasked with ensuring that anyone setting up an encampment vacates immediately. If individuals do not comply, law enforcement must be contacted to initiate legal action.

This legislation follows incidents at Arizona State University, where police dismantled tents set up during a protest. The bill received bipartisan support but passed with an 18-10-2 vote in the Arizona Senate, with some Democrats and one Republican opposing it.

Critics argue that the language of the bill is vague and may infringe upon First Amendment rights. State Rep. Alma Hernandez, a Democrat and sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the law is not meant to infringe on the right to protest, clarifying that encampments are not a protected right on campus.