www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 15:33:00
(The Center Square) − A Louisiana Senate bill that would criminalize “unauthorized camping on public property” is drawing opposition from advocates for the homeless, who warn it is fiscally irresponsible and could overburden the justice system.
Snuck into the last page of Senate Bill 196 by Sen. Robert “Bob” Owen, R-Slidell, the law would create a new misdemeanor and felony crime for public camping.
A first offense could bring a fine of up to $500 or six months in jail. A second conviction would carry a mandatory minimum of one year behind bars—with the possibility of up to two years of hard labor—and a $1,000 fine.
The bill also authorizes district courts to set up a new statewide “homeless court” system. Defendants accused of public camping would be required to plead guilty and enter a one-year supervised treatment program. Failure to comply could result in incarceration in a state Department of Corrections facility and reentry into the program.
The proposal, which has not yet been assigned a fiscal note, could strain local governments already struggling with tight budgets. According to a 2019 report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, it cost the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office $88 million to house prisoners that year.
“Sheriff (Susan) Hutson recently sent out a mailer noting that it costs $53,000 to keep someone in jail for a year. In contrast, it would cost about $16,000 to place that person in supportive housing,” said Angela Owczarek, a director at Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, in a statement.
“This would be enormously expensive,” Meghan Garvey, a New Orleans attorney, told the Senate Judiciary committee. “Police would be pulled away from addressing more serious crimes. So now we’re talking about law enforcement resources, public defenders, and court time being redirected.”
Under the proposed system, defendants could be expelled from the yearlong treatment program for nearly any reason, triggering incarceration. And by forcing guilty pleas, critics say it imposes lasting consequences — criminal records, court fees, and custody risks for families — on people already facing extreme hardship.
Jennifer Carwile, Vice Chair of Louisiana’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, said there are more constructive options.
“One thing we could do is designate a safe, legal place where people can camp without fear of being robbed or arrested,” Carwile said. “But in the end, if we’re serious about addressing this crisis, we have to invest in housing and rethink our priorities.”
Advocates argue that without new investments in shelter, supportive services, or affordable housing, the legislation amounts to “criminalizing poverty”. For now, the bill remains under review — but its impact is already stirring deep concern.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article presents a neutral account of a proposed Louisiana Senate bill, focusing on the potential opposition and concerns raised by advocates for the homeless. The tone is primarily factual, reporting on the legislative details, the opposition’s arguments, and the potential consequences of the bill. However, it also includes strong quotes from critics who argue that the bill could be fiscally irresponsible and overly punitive, framing the opposition in a critical light. While the article does not advocate explicitly for or against the bill, it leans towards highlighting concerns about its societal impact, particularly regarding the criminalization of homelessness and the strain on the justice system. This framing, along with the inclusion of statements from homeless advocates and legal experts, suggests a Center-Left perspective that favors more rehabilitative or housing-focused solutions over punitive measures.
Louisiana lawmakers plan to withdraw \$1.2 billion from the state’s Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to fund infrastructure, economic development, and technology upgrades. The budget includes \$709M for roads and bridges, \$150M for development sites, and \$59.8M for government tech. Notable allocations include \$280M to attract federal transportation funds, \$101M for bridge maintenance, \$75M for water systems, and \$29M for college repairs. Other spending supports voting machine upgrades, a marketing campaign, and AI monitoring in prisons. Though Louisiana isn’t in a budget crisis, lawmakers cite strong reserve balances. After the withdrawal, \$2.7B remains in the trust fund.
The Louisiana Legislature’s leaders want to spend $1.2 billion that would typically be deposited into a state savings account on infrastructure, economic development and technology upgrades.
State lawmakers expect to send Gov. Jeff Landry a $48 billion budget plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 by the time their legislative session concludes Thursday. The current plan includes additional money for roadways and bridges ($709 million), economic development site upgrades ($150 million), state government technology improvements ($59.8 million) and public university maintenance projects ($28 million).
The money comes from a state savings account called the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, which takes in corporate taxes as well as energy production taxes in excess of $600 million each per year. Established by voters in 2016, the fund was set up to provide an additional source of funding to Louisiana during economic downturns when the state faces budget crises.
Lawmakers gave themselves a significant amount of latitude in the law to access the fund at any time, so long as they can get two-thirds of the House and Senate to vote to draw down the money.
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The Senate voted unanimously Monday through House Bill 461 to withdraw $1.2 billion. The House is expected to approve the same plan Wednesday or Thursday.
Louisiana is not in the midst of a budget crisis but legislators feel confident about using the money anyway because the state’s two major savings accounts are flush with cash. They also took $717 million out of the account just last year, mostly for transportation and youth prison projects.
Even after the withdrawal, the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund will have $2.7 billion left. There’s also more than $1.1 billion in the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, a separate account often referred to as the state “rainy day” fund used to cover budget shortfalls.
Here are some highlights of how the money will be spent:
$280 million: Transportation funding to attract federal money
Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, said this allocation will be used to draw down $1.3 billion in federal funding for transportation projects that could include both new construction and maintenance of existing infrastructure. A list of specific items that would be funded was not provided.
This money would be used to fix and upgrade existing transportation infrastructure, according to McFarland. On top of this money, an additional $63 million is going directly to state transportation districts, where it can also be used for that purpose.
$150 million: Louisiana economic development site investment
The Louisiana Economic Development agency requested this funding in order to pay for physical upgrades and infrastructure at specific sites where the state hopes to attract private sector investment.
For example, the state has already committed to spending millions of dollars to build new roads around the site of the anticipated Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish. It will also reimburse Hyundai for some of the construction the company undertakes to build its facility at that location, according to The Times-Picayune. It’s unclear whether any of this funding is committed to the Hyundai project or others recently announced.
On top of this allocation, the economic development agency will also receive an additional $74 million for its “debt service and commitments program” from the $1.2 billion. The department will also get $5 million to launch a marketing campaign for the state.
$101 million: Bridge upgrades McFarland said Louisiana intends to “bundle up” bridge maintenance projects – around 20 at a time – and put them out to bid as a collective in order to get a better price on the construction work. This money would be used to pay for that work.
$75 million: Water system upgrades
This money is supposed to be used to improve local drinking water and sewerage systems in Louisiana. The state has put hundreds of millions of dollars toward similar projects since 2021, but the repairs needed are estimated to cost billions of dollars.
$29 million: College campus deferred maintenance
The funding will support delayed construction projects and repairs at public universities and colleges. It includes $3 million for work at the University of New Orleans, which is being transferred to the LSU System later this year.
$24.1 million: OMV technology upgrades
The state Office of Motor Vehicles experienced outages of its system this spring, leading Gov. Jeff Landry to declare a state of emergency and waive driver’s license fees as members of the public struggled to access the system. The technology motor vehicle offices rely on is approximately 50 years old.
$10 million: LIV Golf and other ‘major’ events
Lawmakers will combine this money with other state funds in the Major Events Incentive Fund for a total of $16.4 million in spending for tourist-heavy events that are expected to generate revenue.
These include $7 million for a LIV Golf League event in New Orleans; $3.5 million for the months-long U.S. Bowling Congress Tournament in Baton Rouge; $1.2 million for Essence Festival in New Orleans and $1.5 million for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New Orleans.
$10 million: New voting machines For years, Louisiana has been trying to purchase new voting machines to replace ones that are more than three decades old. This allocation comes as lawmakers passed legislation to change the bid process for purchasing a voting system earlier this month.
$5 million: Upgrade to Medicaid eligibility system
This money is supposed to allow Louisiana to upgrade the technology it uses to make sure Medicaid recipients are eligible for the public health insurance benefit. The Louisiana Department of Health recently announced its intention to start cross-checking its Medicaid rolls with other state databases, including those used by the Office of Motor Vehicles.
$4 million: More grass cutting on state roads
This allocation will be used to pay for additional cycles of mowing along state roads over the next fiscal cycle.
$3 million: AI tool for monitoring state prisoner phone calls Louisiana’s prison system will receive $3 million to help pay for an artificial intelligence tool that monitors and collects data on phone calls from state prisoners. The program Verus, made by the company LeoTech, is used to detect criminal activity, prevent self-harm and assist with public safety, according to the LeoTech’s website.
The company says it does not monitor communication between incarcerated people and their attorneys, spiritual advisors or doctors.
$3 million: Louisiana Supreme Court building security
The court is receiving a blanket $1.8 million to upgrade security at its facility in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Another $1.1 million has been allocated specifically for additional fencing around the building.
$1.8 million: State police payment for the ‘recapture of fugitives’ The state’s top law enforcement agency is receiving $1.8 million for “expenses related to the recapture of fugitives.”
Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content presents a detailed and factual account of Louisiana’s legislative budget decisions without any overt editorializing or partisan language. It describes how funds are being allocated across various sectors such as infrastructure, economic development, technology upgrades, and public safety, reflecting a pragmatic approach to governance. The emphasis on bipartisan legislative approval and the inclusion of multiple perspectives and facts suggests a neutral stance aimed at informing readers rather than advocating a particular political viewpoint.
SUMMARY: This week’s Lafayette City and Parish Council agendas include proposed measures to allow UL Lafayette and SLCC student IDs as library cards to boost library use, and a \$100,000 increase for waterproofing the parish jail, where five undocumented workers were recently detained. The City Council will discuss drainage improvements after repeated flooding this spring. Other city matters include rezoning Ramsgate Townhouses and a permit for Five Mile Eatery’s new location, which faces some neighborhood opposition. Joint council items involve donating properties for affordable housing and a pocket park, as well as selecting The Daily Advertiser as the official journal of record.
SUMMARY: Tropical weather is quiet in the Atlantic, with disturbed weather centered over Central America and scattered storms in the Gulf and Caribbean. The Bermuda High remains strong, limiting activity in the Caribbean. In the Pacific, a new storm south of Mexico, Invest 94, is likely to become a named storm and could reach hurricane strength as it moves toward southern Mexico, possibly making landfall midweek near Acapulco. Warm waters and low wind shear support potential intensification. The Atlantic season remains delayed, with peak activity expected in August and September. Meanwhile, a significant heatwave will impact much of the eastern and central U.S. heading into summer’s start Friday.
Meteorologist Payton Malone has the latest update on the tropics for Monday, June 16.
