State lawmakers removed part of a bill that would have created a new criminal penalty for some people experiencing homelessness.
Still, that language could come back in another bill before the end of this legislative session.
Get the backstory
Senate Bill 197 would have made it a Class C misdemeanor to use public land for long-term camping. The misdemeanor language, which would have resulted in up to 60 days of jail time for a conviction, was added as an amendment.
House Republicans approved the bill April 14, but lawmakers in the Senate didn’t sign off on changes.
A committee of House and Senate lawmakers then took out the misdemeanor language April 17.
Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, authored Senate Bill 197, which deals with unsafe buildings. He told the committee that the homelessness amendment wasn’t relevant to the original bill.
“For those playing along, I’m sure it’ll end up in another bill,” Freeman said, according to the IBJ.
That’s why advocates aren’t declaring victory yet.
It’s still possible that lawmakers could add the language to another bill before the legislative session ends April 29.
Prosperity Indiana, a housing advocacy organization, celebrated the change but told people to remain vigilant through the rest of the session.
Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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