Senate Bill 1141

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO STOP SENATE BILL 1141: STATEWIDE PUBLIC CAMPING BAN

STATUS: SB 1141 passed the Senate (28 in favor, 8 opposed) and passed the House State Affairs Committee (13 in favor, 2 opposed).

Last updated: March 20, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.

Bill 1141 will require cities and counties across the state to prohibit, and enforce or face litigation, a dangerously broad definition of “camping or sleeping in public spaces”. The bill will worsen the crisis, increase taxpayer costs, and make solving homelessness harder at every turn. – Our Path Home

The bill would effectively criminalize homelessness across Idaho by:

🛑 Banning what they misleadingly call “camping” in public spaces — when in reality, people aren’t camping, they’re simply trying to survive

🛑 Undermining local control by limiting community autonomy and authority to respond to local homelessness

🛑 Wasting taxpayer money on costly enforcement instead of real solutions that actually address homelessness

Did you know local jail costs $126.24 per day for taxpayers (Our Path Home), whereas $35 from private donors covers one Night of Shelter at Interfaith. 

The City of Boise opposes SB 1141 because it will require cities to divert limited staff and financial resources from addressing homelessness to avoid private lawsuits or investigation by the Attorney General regarding no-camping enforcement. – Boise Office of the Mayor

WHY CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T WORK
OUR PATH HOME'S PUBLIC POLICY PAGE
JOIN OUR E-NEWSLETTER TO STAY UP TO DATE

WHO TO CONTACT

We understand time is limited.

If you can only make one phone call, please call the House State Affairs Committee: (208) 332-1145

If you can only send one email, use the email tool below to send one email to all 15 members of the House State Affairs Committee. 

EMAIL COMMITTEE TO VOTE NO ON SB 1141

Note: This bill would have statewide ramifications and we need statewide support! Share your passion to stop this harmful bill with your friends and family across Idaho!

Further communications directed to individual members of the House State Affairs Committee should be directed at: 

EMAIL SCRIPT
CALL SCRIPT

KEY MESSAGES FOR CONTACTING LEGISLATORS

Comparative Costs Show Housing Is More Effective

Enforcement Is Expensive:

Housing Is Cost-Effective:
  • Local jail costs: $126.24 per day
  • Emergency medical treatment: $138.80 (on-site) to $1,247.77 (with transport)
  • Hospital stays: $8,988 – $12,942 per visit
  • One Night of Shelter at Interfaith is $35 and funded by private donations (not taxpayer dollars)
  • Supportive housing programs: $62 per household per day
  • 93% of individuals in Our Path Home remain stably housed after 24 months
  • New Path Community Housing program saved $8.8 million by reducing emergency service usage by 5,569 fewer days

Redirects Resources Away from Proven Solutions

  • Misallocates Funding: Resources for enforcement and litigation should instead support effective homelessness reduction strategies
  • Evidence-Based Alternatives That Work:
    • Shelter with supportive services
    • Permanent supportive housing
    • Affordable rental assistance
    • Mental health and addiction recovery program
    • Employment training and support

Criminalizing Homelessness Creates More Problems Than It Solves

  • Counterproductive Approach: Evidence shows criminalization worsens the crisis by creating additional barriers to housing and prolonging homelessness (NAEH 2024)
  • No Alternatives Available: Many unhoused people have nowhere else to go due to shelter shortages and lack of affordable housing
  • Criminalizes Basic Human Activities: The bill’s overly broad definition of “camping” makes it illegal to:
    • Sleep in one’s car for any amount of time
    • Rest in a park or on grass beside a greenbelt
    • Sit or lie down in public spaces at any time of day

Undermines Local Control and Proven Solutions

  • Removes Community Autonomy: Cities and counties should maintain authority to create tailored solutions
  • Dismantles Successful Programs: The bill threatens existing effective programs like those in Boise, where 93% of people in supportive housing remain housed after two years
  • Ignores Evidence-Based Approaches: Housing-first approaches in Ada County have saved $8.8 million in avoided costs over five years (Our Path Home 2023 Evaluation)

Unconstitutional and Legally Problematic

  • Violates Legal Precedent: Federal courts have ruled that banning outdoor sleeping is unconstitutional when adequate shelter alternatives don’t exist (Martin v. Boise, 2019)
  • Invites Costly Litigation: Ignoring established precedent burdens taxpayers with expensive legal battles
  • Enables Unlimited Lawsuits: The bill allows “aggrieved parties” to sue, creating unpredictable legal exposure for local governments

Imposes Massive Unfunded Enforcement Burden

  • Restricts Law Enforcement Discretion: Officers lose necessary flexibility when responding to homelessness
  • Shifts Costs to Local Taxpayers: Creates substantial enforcement expenses borne entirely by local communities, not the state
  • Diverts Critical Resources: Requires local law enforcement to:
    • Develop extensive new codes and procedures
    • Continuously patrol all public spaces 24/7
    • Process citations, arrests, property logging, and detailed record-keeping
    • Pull resources away from urgent public safety needs

Disproportionately Harms Vulnerable Populations

  • Targets Those Most in Need: Impacts families, veterans, and people with disabilities without providing alternatives
  • Creates More Dangerous Conditions: Forces unhoused people into hidden, unsafe locations when shelters are full
  • Perpetuates Cycles of Poverty: Citations, arrests, and criminal records make securing housing and employment even more difficult

High Litigation Risks for Local Governments

  • Excessive Legal Exposure: Broad language allows businesses and individuals to sue for injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees
  • Taxpayers Pay Twice: Local governments bear costs of both enforcement and defending against inevitable lawsuits
  • Proven Legal Vulnerability: Similar laws have been successfully challenged in court

EMAIL SCRIPT FOR CONTACTING LEGISLATORS

Subject: Vote NO on SB 1141

Dear Representative [Last Name],

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent from [City/County] to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 1141, which would criminalize homelessness across our state without addressing its root causes.

The bill’s overly broad definition of “camping” is particularly troubling. By criminalizing activities like resting in a park, sleeping in one’s car, or sitting on public walkways at any time of day, SB 1141 effectively makes basic human needs illegal without providing any alternatives. Federal courts have already ruled in Martin v. Boise (2019) that banning outdoor sleeping is unconstitutional when adequate shelter alternatives don’t exist—an issue we consistently face in the Boise community as shelter reach capacity every night. 

As a taxpayer, I’m deeply concerned about the financial burden this bill would impose on our local communities, forcing local governments to:

  • Divert law enforcement from addressing serious crime to patrolling public spaces 24/7
  • Develop extensive new enforcement procedures
  • Defend against potentially unlimited litigation
  • Shoulder all these costs locally, as the bill provides no state funding

Evidence shows housing-focused approaches are more effective and economical. In Ada County, 93% of people in supportive housing stay housed after two years, saving $8.8 million over five years. Rather than threatening local governments with litigation for non-enforcement, we should be supporting and expanding these proven solutions.

The most vulnerable in our communities—families, veterans, and people with disabilities—would be disproportionately harmed by this bill. Without addressing the shortage of affordable housing and necessary support services, SB 1141 would simply force unhoused individuals into more dangerous, hidden locations while creating additional barriers to their stability through citations, arrests, and criminal records. Rather than criminalizing basic human needs, I urge you to vote NO on SB 1141 and instead support proven solutions:

  • Increased investment in shelter and supportive services
  • Expanded permanent supportive housing
  • Affordable rental assistance programs
  • Mental health and addiction recovery services
  • Employment training and support

Thank you for considering my concerns.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Phone Number]

[Your Email]

CALL SCRIPT

“Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m calling to urge Representative [NAME] to vote NO on SB 1141. This bill would criminalize homelessness without addressing its root causes.”

Key Points (choose 2-3 that matter most to you)
  • “The bill’s extremely broad definition of ‘camping’ would criminalize basic activities like sleeping in cars or resting in parks, which violates established court precedents.”
  • “This bill would create a massive unfunded mandate for our local communities, forcing police to patrol public spaces instead of focusing on serious crime.”
  • “Evidence shows housing-first approaches are more effective and cost-efficient. In Ada County, supportive housing programs have a 93% success rate and have saved $8.8 million over five years.”
  • “This bill would harm vulnerable populations including families and veterans while making it even harder for them to find stability.”
Ask

“Instead of criminalizing homelessness, I urge the Representative to support solutions like increased shelter capacity, affordable housing, and supportive services. Will Representative [Last Name] commit to voting NO on SB 1141?”

Wrap-Up

“Thank you for your time. Could I get your name? And would you mind telling me if the Representative has taken a position on this bill?”

Optional: “I’d appreciate if you could let me know the Representative’s decision on this matter. My phone number is [Your Phone] and my email is [Your Email].”

“Thank you again for taking my message. Have a good day.”

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER FOR UPDATES