Bill · S. 2517· Senate(119-S-2517)
A bill to impose criminal penalties for camping on public property in the District of Columbia.
- Introduced
- 7/29/2025
- Last activity
- 7/29/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Tom Cotton
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill aims to make camping on public property in Washington D.C. against the law. If someone is caught, they could face fines, jail time, or both. The bill defines "camp" as using any material to set up a temporary place to live.
Yes
No question was scored yes.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-9
This bill is extremely detrimental to low-income households as it criminalizes homelessness, disproportionately affecting those who lack the resources to secure stable housing.
Is this likely to reduce homelessness?-8
The bill does not reduce homelessness; it criminalizes it, potentially leading to a cycle of fines, arrests, and further marginalization.
Does this make housing cost less?-7
By criminalizing camping, the bill negatively impacts access to affordable housing for the homeless, who are effectively being punished for lacking housing.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
There are no explicitly stated positive impacts for people mentioned in the provided text of this bill.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
The bill states in subsection (b) that it will be unlawful to camp on public property in D.C., making it a crime.
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Subsection (c) creates a penalty for violating the camping ban, potentially leading to a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both, for those found camping on public property.
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The definition of "camp" in subsection (a) is broad, potentially impacting individuals who may be using materials for temporary shelter, even if they do not intend to establish a permanent abode.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Reduces Homelessness-8Improves Affordable Housing-7Improves Poverty Reduction-5Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households-9
- 7/29/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate