The People's Ledger
← All Indiana bills

SB0285Introduced in the Senate

Housing matters.

Passed

Introduced by Cyndi Carrasco, District 36

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.

Official description

Housing matters. 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). Requires a recipient of program funding to submit an annual report to the authority. Defines "gravely disabled" for purposes of involuntary commitment. 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. Provides that, if there are not grounds for emergency detention and certain elements are met, 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. Creates a defense to the crime if: (1) no beds are available in a shelter or treatment facility located within five miles; or (2) less than six months have passed since the person was released from a facility to which the person was involuntarily committed. 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. Requires: (1) 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 (2) the state police department to provide this information to the authority. Specifies that the bill does not prohibit a policy, program, or order of a political subdivision that encourages a diversion program or encourages or requires providing housing or shelter in lieu of a citation or arrest. Makes technical corrections.

Where it stands

Public Law 138

March 5, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate - Senate concurred with House amendments · February 26, 2026

28

Yes

22

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

50 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Dan Dernulc1Yes
Lonnie Randolph2No
Mark Spencer3No
Rodney Pol4No
Ed Charbonneau5Yes
Rick Niemeyer6Yes
Brian Buchanan7Yes
Mike Bohacek8No
Ryan Mishler9Yes
David Niezgodski10No

Bill history

  1. Authored by Senator Carrasco

  2. First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

  3. Senator Koch added as second author

  4. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  5. Amendment #6 (Carrasco) prevailed; voice vote

  6. Amendment #2 (Pol) failed; voice vote

  7. Amendment #3 (Pol) failed; voice vote

  8. Amendment #4 (Pol) failed; voice vote

  9. Amendment #5 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote

  10. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  11. Senator Baldwin added as coauthor

  12. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 129: yeas 29, nays 19

  13. House sponsor: Representative Miller D

  14. Referred to the House

  15. First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

  16. Representative Zimmerman added as sponsor

  17. Representative Miller D removed as sponsor

  18. Representative Miller D added as cosponsor

  19. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  20. Representative Davis added as cosponsor

  21. Amendment #2 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote

  22. Amendment #3 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote

  23. Amendment #5 (Gore) failed; voice vote

  24. Amendment #1 (Pierce M) failed; Roll Call 333: yeas 31, nays 62

  25. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  26. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 359: yeas 53, nays 44

  27. Returned to the Senate with amendments

  28. Motion to concur filed

  29. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 303: yeas 28, nays 22

  30. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  31. Signed by the Speaker

  32. Signed by the President of the Senate

  33. Signed by the Governor

  34. Public Law 138

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.