House Judiciary hears bill limiting criminal enforcement of life-sustaining activities by people experiencing homelessness

An Annapolis hearing on Feb. 12 centered on House Bill 4 87, a bill to limit criminal enforcement against people experiencing homelessness when they are engaged in “life-sustaining activities” in public and no adequate indoor alternatives exist. Delegate Maricu North introduced the measure, saying the proposal would require police to seek available indoor alternatives before citing or arresting people who are sheltering, sleeping, or performing other essential acts in public spaces.

Supporters told the House Judiciary Committee the change would preserve civil liberties, reduce racial disparities in policing, and make outreach and housing work more effective. Eric Tars of the National Homelessness Law Center called the measure “crucially important to restore the protections lost” after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson and said other localities using similar laws have reduced encampments by coupling them with housing and services rather than ticketing. Kevin Lindamood, CEO of Healthcare for the Homeless, said sweeps and citations “damage trusting relationships” between outreach workers and people in encampments, often setting back months of engagement.

David Prater, an assistant attorney…