The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 285 on housing matters authored by Sen. Carrasco and Sen. Koch. The bill:
- Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) to establish eligibility criteria for a potential recipient to be included in the authority’s application for funding under the federal continuum of care program (program) and requires a recipient of program funding to submit an annual report to the authority.
- Prohibits an individual from camping, sleeping, or using for long term shelter land owned by the state or a political subdivision, unless the land has been authorized for that use under the provisions added by the bill or another law. The bill further provides, if certain elements are met, that a person who knowingly or intentionally uses land owned by the state or a political subdivision for unauthorized camping, sleeping, or long term shelter commits a Class C misdemeanor.
- Prohibits a political subdivision from adopting or enforcing any policy that prohibits or discourages the enforcement of any order or ordinance prohibiting public camping, sleeping, or other obstruction of a sidewalk; and authorizes a resident of the political subdivision, an owner of a business located in the political subdivision, or the attorney general to bring a civil action to enjoin a political subdivision that adopts or enforces such a policy.
- Requires each local law enforcement agency to provide to the state police department the number of arrests made for violations of the prohibition of street camping; and the state police department to provide this information to the authority.
The Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, Indy Chamber, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of the Governor, Cicero Institute, and a member of the public testified in support of the bill. Indiana United Ways, Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance, Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, Indianapolis Foundation, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention CHIP Indy), Mutually Assured Democracy Voters (MADVoters), Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana, Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute[KE1] , and members of the public testified against the bill.
The Committee amended the bill by consent to increase the period of time from 24 hours to 48 hours between receiving a warning and being at risk of committing a misdemeanor The bill was also amended to remove a prosecuting attorney as an entity described as being employed by or under the direction or control of a political subdivision.
The amended bill passed 8-2.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/285