Bill > SB2296

This bill, known as the Safe Parks and Public Spaces Act, aims to prohibit public camping on public property not designated as a campsite in Mississippi. The legislation defines "public camping" as using public spaces as a substitute for shelter, which includes setting up tents, having bedding, or storing personal property. For a first offense, law enforcement will direct individuals to the nearest emergency shelter, while a second offense becomes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $100. The bill requires counties and municipalities to enforce this camping prohibition and prohibits them from allowing or authorizing unauthorized camping on public property. Additionally, the law ties state funding for homelessness assistance and services to strict enforcement of these camping restrictions, meaning counties or municipalities that do not comply could lose their funding. The bill's proponents argue that unauthorized street camping presents risks such as drug proliferation, potential violence, and health hazards. Residents, business owners, or the Attorney General can bring civil actions against local governments that fail to enforce the law, with potential court-awarded expenses for successful plaintiffs. The legislation includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any part of the act is found invalid, the rest of the law remains in effect.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/SB/SB2296.xml