Sponsor
Thomas Bryant Cotton
Senator · R-AR
Senator · R-AR
The bill gives D.C. authorities a stronger tool to clear public spaces and improve perceived public safety and cleanliness, but does so by criminalizing unsheltered homelessness and increasing legal, financial, and health harms for vulnerable people.
Residents and visitors in Washington, D.C. will generally see fewer public encampments and cleaner, more orderly public parks and sidewalks.
D.C. city agencies gain a clearer legal authority to remove people from public property, simplifying enforcement and park management.
People experiencing homelessness in D.C. lose the ability to use public spaces for shelter and may face arrest, fines, or jail for camping in public.
Low-income and unhoused individuals face increased legal and financial burdens from fines and potential criminal records, which can deepen debt and hinder access to housing and employment.
Criminalizing shelter-seeking may push unsheltered people into less visible, potentially more dangerous locations, worsening their health and safety (including people with disabilities).
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes camping on public property in the District of Columbia illegal and sets penalties up to a $500 fine and 30 days imprisonment.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Thomas Bryant Cotton · Last progress July 29, 2025
Prohibits camping on public property in the District of Columbia by defining “camp” as using any material to set up, maintain, or establish a temporary place of abode. Violators face criminal penalties of up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both.