Committee sends bill banning prolonged public camping in large cities to House floor after hour-long hearing, 13-2

BOISE — The House State Affairs Committee voted 13-2 to send Senate Bill 1141, as amended, to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation after an hour of testimony and questions about how the measure would be enforced and whether shelters and other services are sufficient.

Senator Cody Galloway, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the measure would make prolonged public camping — defined in the bill as unauthorized lodging in a temporary outdoor habitation — unlawful in cities with populations greater than 100,000 and give the attorney general authority to step in if a city does not manage encampments. "Public camping is dirty, dangerous, and it can be deadly," Galloway said as she outlined the bill’s definitions and enforcement framework.

The bill’s backers told the committee that a statewide standard would push cities to address visible encampments, protect public safety and preserve public spaces. Lucy Willets, a Boise city councilwoman testifying in her personal capacity, said the measure “sets the expectation that if you are in need there is a support system for you here,” and described encampments she has seen along the Boise River as hazardous and unsanitary.

Opponents — including the City of Boise, local service providers and the city’s police chief — said the bill is vague about key terms and risks unintended consequences if shelter capacity is insufficient. Kathy Grismeyer, director of policy and government affairs for the City of Boise, said, "I think the largest concern that the city has here is that this is creating a pretty large legal liability that only the 3 largest cities in the state will be forced to reconcile with." Grismeyer noted a prior lawsuit that limits some enforcement options when shelter beds are available.

Christopher Dennison, chief of police for the City of Boise, also urged caution and opposed the bill. "I urge you to not approve Senate Bill 11 41," Dennison said, arguing the bill’s broad definition — which includes sleeping in vehicles or resting on sidewalks at any time of day — could require round-the-clock patrols and remove discretion from officers.

Service providers and faith-based groups were split. Reverend Bill Roscoe, who runs the Boise Rescue Mission, supported the bill and said shelters can provide safer alternatives for people sleeping outside. Jodi Peterson Steigers of Interfaith Sanctuary opposed the bill, calling it “punitive” and arguing that criminalization would drive up jail costs and harm people seeking help. "We need to focus on real solutions, not handcuffs," she said.

Testimony and committee discussion focused on several recurring issues:

- Scope and definitions: Committee members repeatedly pressed the sponsor to define "prolonged" and asked how the bill would apply to recreational vehicles and families sleeping in cars. Senator Galloway told the committee the bill is not intended to criminalize people seeking shelter but did not provide a strict numeric definition of "prolonged." She said the statute is meant to allow local enforcement options and state action only when a city does not act.

- Enforcement and local capacity: City officials and the police chief said the bill could shift enforcement burdens to law enforcement or require cities to change ordinances and policing practices to avoid state scrutiny. Boise officials pointed to a 2018 lawsuit that constrained enforcement when shelter space exists and said the city’s current ordinance limits camping from sunset to sunrise; the state bill contains no time-of-day limitation.

- Shelter capacity and services: Witnesses described the local shelter system and capacity. Reverend Roscoe said the Rescue Mission provides about 475 beds nightly; he estimated River of Life men’s shelter has about 320 beds and City Light women-and-children shelter about 110. Jodi Peterson Steigers and Morgan Burnell of Interfaith Sanctuary said shelters are often full and that removing outdoor options without additional beds would harm families and children.

- Local exceptions and reach: The bill applies to cities with populations greater than 100,000 but, as Senator Galloway noted, it does not prevent smaller cities or highway districts from adopting similar rules; it also includes language saying nothing in the section prohibits cities or countywide highway districts from maintaining or enforcing their own ordinances.

After public testimony and floor questioning by lawmakers about specifics and local impacts, the committee voted to send SB 1141 as amended to the House with a due-pass recommendation. The roll call recorded 13 votes in favor and 2 opposed.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 1141 (as amended): motion to send to the House with a "do pass" recommendation — outcome: approved; committee vote 13 yes, 2 no.

What’s next: With the committee recommendation, SB 1141 moves to the full House for consideration. The committee record shows lawmakers raised several issues that would likely be debated on the floor, including precise definitions, enforcement roles for cities and police, and shelter capacity concerns.