S.E.A. 285, P.L. 138-2026
Effective: July 1, 2026
- Amends the definition of “gravely disabled” for the purposes of involuntary commitment.
- Establishes the new criminal offense of street camping, a Class C misdemeanor.
- 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 by law.
- Requires a law enforcement officer who discovers a person unlawfully using land owned by the state or a political subdivision for unlawful camping, sleeping, or long term shelter to determine if there are reasonable grounds for an emergency detention of the person, and, if reasonable grounds exist, to proceed under the emergency detention procedure and not the criminal law.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/285/