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Amended bill to regulate local anti-camping rules clears Washington House committee
House Bill 2489 requires all homeless encampment residents to have access to legally defined shelters before removal, a standard police say no shelter currently meets.
- On Monday, the committee advanced House Bill 2489, which would limit local enforcement of anti-camping laws in June, with no Republican support.
- In response to a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, lawmakers say the bill aims to prevent criminalization of camping amid a homeless count last January and state housing investments.
- The legislation requires shelters to meet a narrow shelter standard: open now, no religious or sobriety conditions, and allow pets, partners and personal belongings, with carve‑outs for imminent safety, blocked emergency access and ADA issues.
- City officials and city attorneys warned the bill would hinder clearing tents, invite lawsuits and saddle taxpayers with high costs.
- The House committee paired the bill with housing mandates, while last year, similar legislation died amid city pushback, and a $244 million state proposal was introduced.
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Harger: The bill that could put homeless tents on your kid's soccer field
Bill cutoff day was on Wednesday in Olympia. Plenty of proposals didn’t make it. But House Bill 2489, which would fundamentally limit the ability of cities and counties to clear homeless encampments, is still alive. And it’s got strong support from prominent Democrats. Let me walk you through what this bill would actually do. Right now, when a city clears out an encampment, they point to things like safety, sanitation, and needles on the ground.…
·Tacoma, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Center
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources are Center
78% Center
L 17%
C 78%
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