STATEHOUSE – On Monday, Feb. 17, HB1662 was approved in committee and is expected to move for a vote this week in the Indiana House of Representatives.
Titled “State and Local Policies on Homelessness,” the bill, if enacted, would force local law enforcement in all cities and towns in Indiana to ticket and arrest individuals for long-term camping, sleeping, or using public land for shelter.
It would also allow the State Attorney General, private citizens, and businesses to sue cities and towns for perceived insufficient law enforcement. Fines and criminal records add to already significant barriers for people who need housing.
This bill stems from lobbying efforts by the Cicero Institute, a Texas-based group that has introduced similar legislation in other states.
You can find a list of all bills introduced in the current Indiana General Assembly session here. You can find contact information for state legislators here.
