Boise council adopts ordinance to implement state camping ban; $10 infraction, outreach to continue

Boise — The Boise City Council on Monday approved changes to municipal code to comply with Idaho Senate Bill 1141, commonly referenced at City Hall as the Galloway Law, making prolonged public camping or sleeping on certain public property an infraction with a proposed $10 penalty beginning July 1.

Chief of Police Tim Dennison told council the changes reflect state law and remove the prior requirement that officers confirm shelter availability before taking enforcement action. “With the passing of SB 1141 … it will prohibit cities with populations greater than 100,000 or more from authorizing, permitting, or enabling public camping or sleeping on public property,” Dennison said, adding the city has already drafted ordinance and departmental policy language to align with the statute.

The ordinance adopted by the council (ORD 24-25) revises several code chapters to add a public-camping prohibition on roadways, rights-of-way, parks and certain other…