TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF HUMAN SMUGGLING; AND TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF HARBORING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

House Bill 1655, as amended, proposes to create new criminal offenses: human smuggling and harboring illegal immigrants. The bill defines these offenses and establishes penalties ranging from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony, depending on factors such as repeat offenses or whether value was exchanged. It specifically clarifies that the bill does not restrict or prevent schools or higher education institutions from providing housing services to their regularly enrolled students.