HB 1662 Indiana House · 2025 Regular Session

State and local policies on homelessness.

Summary

Specifies that a person who owns or operates a private camping facility funded under the bill's provisions is immune from civil liability. 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 law. 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. Establishes an affirmative defense to such a prosecution. 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. 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. Makes conforming changes.

Issues: ✗ Housing

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced House Bill (H) → House Bill (H) · 9 edits

MAJOR

The bill was substantially rewritten from an introductory version to a final version that passed committee. The original version focused on directing state homelessness funding to specific facilities and programs. The new version shifts focus to prohibiting street camping on state or local land, establishing criminal penalties for violations, and preventing local governments from adopting policies that discourage enforcement of anti-camping ordinances. The funding provisions from the original version were removed entirely.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from primarily funding homelessness programs to primarily regulating where people can camp and sleep, and limiting local government ability to create policies discouraging enforcement of anti-camping rules.

FISCAL

Removed all provisions directing state homelessness funds to parking areas, camping facilities, individual shelters, and congregate shelters.

Removed restrictions on using state funds for the Indiana housing first program.

ENFORCEMENT

Added prohibition on camping, sleeping, or long-term sheltering on state or political subdivision land unless authorized by law.

Established a Class C misdemeanor penalty for unauthorized camping after a warning and 24-hour period.

Added affirmative defense if no services or shelter are available within five miles of the violation location.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibited political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing policies that discourage enforcement of anti-camping ordinances.

Authorized residents, business owners, or the attorney general to sue political subdivisions that violate the anti-camping enforcement prohibition.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from concerning state and local administration to concerning local government.

Updated affected Indiana Code citations from IC 5-20-12 and IC 34-30-2.1-49.5 to IC 35-52 and IC 36-1.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 19, 2025

Amended

Amendment #1 (Bartlett) motion withdrawn

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors