Overview
- House Bill 211 advanced out of the Louisiana Senate Judiciary C Committee with one dissenting vote and an adopted amendment that blocks felony convictions under the statute.
- The bill defines unauthorized camping on public property as using a tent, shelter, or bedding for overnight sleep where camping is not allowed, creating a misdemeanor offense.
- Penalties include up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense, with later convictions carrying up to two years in jail, fines up to $1,000, and possible unpaid labor.
- The measure creates homelessness courts that offer a 12‑month treatment track requiring a guilty plea, with program costs charged to participants and potential unpaid labor if they cannot pay, and successful completion can lead to dismissal.
- Supporters led by Rep. Debbie Villio say the plan connects people to services, while advocates warn it criminalizes poverty, risks coerced labor, could be enforced unevenly across parishes, and follows Governor Jeff Landry’s push for encampment crackdowns.