A Republican-led proposal in the Texas Legislature to strengthen enforcement of the state’s ban on homeless encampments collapsed Monday night after Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) unexpectedly withdrew the bill.
Senate Bill 241, already passed by the Senate, would have allowed state intervention when cities or counties failed to act on encampment complaints. It would have empowered the attorney general to penalize localities by withholding sales tax revenue. House Democrats mounted a series of procedural and amendment challenges, prompting Capriglione to delay debate until after the session ends, effectively killing the measure.
Capriglione said he intends to revive the proposal in the next session. “Everybody knows that these camping restrictions… have not been enforced,” he told the Texas Tribune.
Texas enacted a statewide ban in 2021, but critics argue fines and forced removals worsen homelessness. Over 12,000 Texans are currently unsheltered, a number that has grown with rising housing costs. Advocates warn that punishing cities may undercut successful housing programs in cities like Dallas and Houston, which have reduced unsheltered homelessness by over 25% since 2019.
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