Debate continues over move to make it illegal to sleep on public property

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Last update: Wednesday, April 23

Debate continues over whether to make it illegal to sleep on public property, in the final days of the state legislative session. The controversial language would make it possible to fine or jail some people experiencing homelessness.

Lawmakers added and removed it from bills several times this session, and Tuesday they included it in a criminal justice bill, House Bill 1014. Then they struck it from that bill Wednesday.

Lawmakers can add it back into legislation and continue the debate until April 29.

The language originated in a bill that died in the House earlier this session.

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel is the executive director of the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance — a group that advocates for more resources for people living unhoused. He says he doesn’t understand why lawmakers are motivated to make it illegal to sleep in public places.

“I’m really concerned about the focus on getting this language into law when we have so many other things that we could be, certainly should be, dealing with,” Spiegel said.

Tuesday wasn’t the first attempt to add the original bill’s language into other legislation. Some lawmakers recently attempted to add it to another bill on building safety, but it was eventually removed.

Read more about the language and both sides of the debate in earlier coverage here.

“I also want to say I understand the frustration of state legislatures,” Spiegel said. “Because they don't think Indianapolis has done anything, and in some ways, they’re right, and that’s changing.”

But he said criminalizing people experiencing homelessness will do more harm.

“This will set us back. Immeasurably,” Spiegel said.

If the language is again inserted into a bill, it will have to be approved by both the House and Senate.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05.