Committee advances bill allowing counties to accept private donations for voluntary relocation assistance for people experiencing homelessness

Senate Bill 483, a request bill from Cleveland County commissioners that would authorize counties to accept private donations and use those funds to facilitate voluntary relocation of people experiencing homelessness back to an origin community, advanced from the Local and County Government Committee by a vote of 7–2.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Weaver, said the measure is voluntary at every level: counties are not required to run a program, participation by individuals must be voluntary, and the program requires an attestation from a receiving person or family that they will help once the participant arrives. Weaver said the authoring county sought a way to assist people who say they "want to go home," and the measure gives counties the authority to accept donated funds to help with travel and related assistance.

Committee members raised multiple concerns during an extended Q&A and debate. Senator Goodwin expressed strong opposition and said the bill risks pushing people out of a community rather than addressing homelessness through housing and services: "You're definitely pushing human beings out of a location because other folks there don't want them there," Goodwin said. Other members asked how counties would handle oversight of donated funds, whether counties could use volunteers or paid staff, how liability would be handled and whether program safeguards could be abused or scammed.

The bill contains a liability clause stating that "a county that conducts a relocation assistance program shall not be liable for any claim of injuries or damages" connected to the program; the sponsor said that liability language is limited by the voluntary nature of participation and that civil claims would still be litigated in court.

Several senators noted existing nonprofit programs and transportation‑aid services that provide similar assistance; supporters said counties had requested a statutory tool to accept donations and coordinate programs locally. Senator Weaver noted a provision that participants may be ineligible to participate again within two years.

On the roll call, senators recorded 7 ayes and 2 nays; the chair declared the bill to have advanced. The committee discussion focused on program design, safeguards, oversight of donated funds and the balance between voluntary relocation and housing investments.