(Editor’s Note: This is not a political post, nor does Homeward Bound Villages take a political position of any kind.)
As we continue our series on policy, education, and advocacy for housing and what’s at risk, we want to discuss Indiana Senate Bill 285, also known as the “camping ban” law, which went into effect on July 1, 2026. Proponents aim to create more opportunities for local communities to help unhoused individuals by connecting them to support services. Those against the new law feel that this law essentially criminalizes homelessness.
What Does the Law Do?
Indiana Senate Bill 285, later known as SEA 285, makes it illegal to camp, sleep, or set up long-term shelter on public lands that aren’t authorized. This applies to state and local public property, but not private property. We have broken down the law into a few easily digestible points below:
- Local law enforcement must determine if emergency detention is required at a first meeting. This might apply if law enforcement believes the individual or individuals are a danger to themselves or others, or if there is imminent weather, and the individual declines a ride to a local shelter.
- If none of the above criteria are met, the officer may issue a warning and provide additional information about support services. The cited individual then has 48 hours to vacate the space and must move at least 300 feet away.
- If the individual(s) have not moved after the time has passed, the person may be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and face up to a $500 fine.
- However, if no shelter bed is available within 5 miles of the camping location, the person will not be prosecuted.
Who Does This Law Impact?
This law affects more than individuals sleeping on the streets; it also affects local law enforcement, the court system, shelters, and residents.
- Unhoused Individuals: For those who have nowhere else left to turn due to lack of funds, this law essentially criminalizes their status as unhoused. Opponents point out that adding criminal charges and fees significantly affects a person’s ability to be rehoused.
- Law Enforcement: 48 hours is rarely enough time for individuals to secure stable housing, and this law requires local law enforcement to enforce it, even if that means detaining someone trying to secure housing or access support services. This essentially pushes law enforcement into the social work space.
- Shelters: The five-mile piece of this law is tricky, meaning shelter capacity is now evidence in a court case. What happens when the local shelter within a five-mile radius is full? What is the shelter to do, knowing that the person brought to their door, if turned away, will most likely be detained?
- Local Government: With the new law in place, this means local government has lost the ability to set its own policies regarding discouraging enforcement. Additionally, the court system will see increased volume for people who most likely cannot pay fines and are likely to be charged repeatedly with the same misdemeanor for being unhoused.
Opposing Views on This Law:
The bill’s author, Indiana Senator Cyndi Carrasco of Indianapolis, framed the misdemeanor as a level rather than punishment, saying that this bill “creates a moment where outreach, diversion, and connection to services can occur.” Governor Mike Braun, who signed the bill, said, “Hoosiers deserve safe public spaces and that people who are homeless deserve a clear path to help.” Local elected leaders who support the law echo these sentiments, saying it provides opportunities and entry points into the larger support network to help individuals access the services they need, with the goal of becoming rehoused.
Opponents of the law say it creates significant barriers to individuals trying to improve their situation. For those working toward a better life, fines and charges only hinder their ability to be rehoused. For one who is unhoused, funds are nonexistent or limited to basic survival needs; there is no additional budget for fines. As a result, charges under this new law make it much harder to pass a background check for housing. Limited shelter services and an even smaller behavioral health workforce make it hard to enforce this law with compassion and fairness.
More Questions Than Answers at This Point
Local communities have yet to see how this law will affect entire communities in the long term. In the meantime, many communities are left with more questions than answers, such as how local police departments will apply this law and what the five-mile bed question looks like on any given night.
Other Posts In This Series:
The Federal Retreat From Housing: What the Latest Funding Cuts Mean for People at Risk
Sources:
• Indiana Capital Chronicle, Public camping ban and other laws go into effect July 1 (June 25, 2026) https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/06/25/public-camping-ban-national-guard-military-police-and-other-laws-go-into-effect-july-1/
• Office of Gov. Mike Braun, announcement on SEA 285 (April 21, 2026) https://events.in.gov/event/gov-mike-braun-takes-action-to-ban-street-camping-connect-homeless-hoosiers-to-help
• The Indiana Citizen, Fight over homelessness: new effort to ban street camping gains traction https://indianacitizen.org/fight-over-homelessness-new-effort-to-ban-street-camping-gains-traction-in-statehouse/
• Stateline, 2 years after Grants Pass, 14 states and 350 cities have tougher laws (June 25, 2026) https://stateline.org/2026/06/25/2-years-after-grants-pass-14-states-350-cities-have-tougher-laws-on-street-homelessness/
• Congressional Research Service, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11203
• WFYI, A cop, a homeless man, and a provider: the street view of the new law (June 29, 2026) https://www.wfyi.org/statewide/2026-06-29/a-cop-a-homeless-man-and-a-provider-the-street-view-of-new-state-laws-consequences
• ACLU of Indiana, Criminalizing Homelessness (SB 285) https://www.aclu-in.org/legislation/criminalizing-homelessness-various/
