People experiencing homelessness in Raleigh pack to leave an encampment off of Highway 70 near Interstate 40. (Photo: Greg Childress)
A bill that would make it unlawful for local governments to allow or authorize any person to “regularly engage in public camping or sleeping on public property, including, but not limited to, public buildings or grounds and any public right-of-way” received a favorable report in a House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
The bill, however, includes a significant exception. House Bill 781 would allow local governments by “majority vote” to designate local government-owned property located within its jurisdiction to be used for a “continuous period of up to one year for public camping or sleeping purposes.” Local governments can renew the one-year period.
Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph) said he sponsored the bill after leaders of local municipalities came to him looking for guidance in handling homelessness. Biggs insisted the bill doesn’t criminalize homelessness as some critics contend…