'Great bill': Bettencourt applauds Texas Senate's recent approval of public anti-camping legislation

House Bill 1925 (HB 1925), which authorizes a statewide ban on homeless encampments, was recently approved by the Texas Senate by a 28-3 vote, according to a press report.

One of the bill's co-sponsors, State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), praised the Senate's ratification of the bill, stating that local testimony helped in voicing residents' concerns about the homeless encampments in Austin.

"As co-sponsor of this great bill, #HB1925 by @DrBuckinghamTX gets 28-3 bipartisan support as statewide camping ban passes," Bettencourt stated in a Twitter post. "Testimony in my Local Government Committee was the public crying out against what has been happening to citizens in Austin!"

The bill was reportedly approved by the Texas Senate in reaction to the City of Austin's repealing of a similar local ban two years ago, which was recently reinstated by voters, according to the Texas Tribune.

Sen. José Menéndez, (D-San Antonio), who advocated for the bill, stated that a statewide encampment ban might help introduce the homeless population to services and facilities that provide them with more dignity.

“Having people live under bridges is not humane. Having people experience all of their bodily functions out in public is not humane,” Menéndez said during the discussion and vote on the bill. “It's not right.”

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) was the only senator to argue against the bill, claiming that it may not go far enough to help Texas' homeless population.

“I understand the desire of this body to send a strong message to the City of Austin,” Eckhardt said. “I will not defend the City of Austin for lifting a camping ban without a plan, because it did not help these poor people find their way to a home. But also I cannot support a statewide camping ban that does very little to help these poor people find their way to a home.”

House Bill 1925 "relates to prohibitions on camping in a public place and to a political subdivision's designation of property for camping by homeless individuals; creating a criminal offense."

Essentially, the bill prohibits people from camping in public spaces unless they are authorized to do so. Currently, authorized camping includes camping for recreational purposes or on property that has been permitted to accommodate homeless people.

Additionally, if the bill is signed into law, it will be the most recent example of the Republican-led state government circumventing city ordinances.