# Indiana SB 285: Housing matters.

Indiana SB 285, Housing matters., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Cyndi Carrasco (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-05 (Signed by the Governor) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB285-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana SB 285
- State: Indiana
- Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)
- Title: Housing matters.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-03-05, Signed by the Governor
- Sponsor: Cyndi Carrasco (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: judiciary, the house, courts and criminal code
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (141 yes, 147 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) to establish eligibility criteria for a potential recipient to be included in the authority's application for funding under the federal continuum of care program (program). Requires a recipient of program funding to submit an annual report to the authority. Defines "gravely disabled" for purposes of involuntary commitment. Prohibits an individual from camping, sleeping, or using for long term shelter land owned by the state or a political subdivision, unless the land has been authorized for that use by law. Requires a law enforcement officer who discovers a person unlawfully using land owned by the state or a political subdivision for unlawful camping, sleeping, or long term shelter to determine if there are reasonable grounds for an emergency detention of the person, and, if reasonable grounds exist, to proceed under the emergency detention procedure and not the criminal law. Provides that, if there are not grounds for emergency detention and certain elements are met, a person who knowingly or intentionally uses land owned by the state or a political subdivision for unauthorized camping, sleeping, or long term shelter commits a Class C misdemeanor. Creates a defense to the crime if: (1) no beds are available in a shelter or treatment facility located within five miles; or (2) less than six months have passed since the person was released from a facility to which the person was involuntarily committed. Prohibits a political subdivision from adopting or enforcing any policy that prohibits or discourages the enforcement of any order or ordinance prohibiting public camping, sleeping, or other obstruction of a sidewalk. Requires: (1) each local law enforcement agency to provide to the state police department the number of arrests made for violations of the prohibition of street camping; and (2) the state police department to provide this information to the authority. Specifies that the bill does not prohibit a policy, program, or order of a political subdivision that encourages a diversion program or encourages or requires providing housing or shelter in lieu of a citation or arrest. Makes technical corrections.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New rules for homelessness funding applicants: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana’s housing authority must set eligibility rules for applicants included in its federal homelessness funding application. These Continuum of Care rules must follow federal law, and inclusion does not guarantee funding. Recipients of funds distributed by the authority m…
- Broader detention grounds for unsheltered people: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana expands its grave-disability definition for people with mental illness who lack fixed, regular, adequate shelter. It covers remaining outdoors in places not normally used for sleeping during weather likely to cause death or serious injury. The person must have refuse…
- Public camping penalties with diversion options: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana bans unauthorized camping, sleeping, or using state or local government land for long-term shelter. Officers must first check for grounds for emergency mental-health detention and use that process when grounds exist. For a first non-emergency violation, officers must…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Cyndi Carrasco (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Alex Zimmerman (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Doug Miller (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Eric Koch (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle Davis (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Scott Baldwin (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Senate concurred with House amendments | pass | 28 | 22 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 53 | 44 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | House | Amendment #1 (Pierce M) failed | fail | 31 | 62 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 29 | 19 |   |

## Actions (34)

- 2026-03-05: Signed by the Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Public Law 138 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by the Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 303: yeas 28, nays 22 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Motion to concur filed (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Returned to the Senate with amendments (House)
- 2026-02-24: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 359: yeas 53, nays 44 (House)
- 2026-02-23: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-23: Amendment #1 (Pierce M) failed; Roll Call 333: yeas 31, nays 62 (House)
- 2026-02-23: Amendment #5 (Gore) failed; voice vote (House)
- 2026-02-23: Amendment #3 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote (House)
- 2026-02-23: Amendment #2 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote (House)
- 2026-02-23: Representative Davis added as cosponsor (House)
- 2026-02-19: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House)
- 2026-02-18: Representative Zimmerman added as sponsor (House)
- 2026-02-18: Representative Miller D removed as sponsor (House)
- 2026-02-18: Representative Miller D added as cosponsor (House)
- 2026-02-02: First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code (House)
- 2026-01-29: Referred to the House (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: House sponsor: Representative Miller D (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 129: yeas 29, nays 19 (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Senator Baldwin added as coauthor (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Amendment #5 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Amendment #4 (Pol) failed; voice vote (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Amendment #2 (Pol) failed; voice vote (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Amendment #6 (Carrasco) prevailed; voice vote (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Amendment #3 (Pol) failed; voice vote (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Authored by Senator Carrasco (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: Senator Koch added as second author (Senate)
- 2026-01-12: First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed Senate Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.03.ENGS?format=pdf)
- Engrossed Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.05.ENGH?format=pdf)
- Enrolled Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.06.ENRH?format=pdf)
- Introduced Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.01.INTR?format=pdf)
- Senate Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.04.COMH?format=pdf)
- Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.02.COMS?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 239: Various education matters. (signed)
- SB 204: Various education matters. (signed)
- SB 179: Indiana department of transportation. (signed)
- SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters. (signed)
- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales. (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed Senate Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.03.ENGS?format=pdf)
- [Engrossed Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.05.ENGH?format=pdf)
- [Enrolled Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.06.ENRH?format=pdf)
- [Introduced Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.01.INTR?format=pdf)
- [Senate Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.04.COMH?format=pdf)
- [Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0285/versions/SB0285.02.COMS?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 239: Various education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB239-2026)
- [SB 204: Various education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB204-2026)
- [SB 179: Indiana department of transportation.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB179-2026)
- [SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB185-2026)
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2026)
- [HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1424-2026)
- [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills)
- [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB285-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).