Sleeping outside on public land in Indiana could land you in jail.
The House passed legislation sponsored by Republican Alex Zimmerman that would make street camping a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of 500 dollars.
"We tried to be compassionate with this," he said during debate. "This bill is not going to solve homelessness. This bill is giving a tool in the toolbox for our local units of government."
Democrat Blake Johnson urged a no vote.
"I completely agree that encampments are complicated," Johnson said. "I agree that our public spaces matter and I agree that our cities and towns need tools, but criminalizing sleeping outside for veterans, for domestic violence survivors, for teenagers, is not the tool."
Another Democrat, Chris Campbell said, "if we really want to see fewer tents, encampments, fewer people sleeping outside the solution is simple: housing not handcuffs."
Democrat Robin Shakleford said "these laws create a vicious cycle of debt and incarceration."
She said someone will be arrested and fined and they won't show up in court and an arrest warrant will be issued and they'll be back in jail.
Under the legislation, the severely mentally ill could be institutionalized.
Social service agencies and a sheriff's association oppose the bill.