Oregon Homeless Bill

A bill is heading to Oregon Governor Kate Brown's desk that would de-criminalize sleeping on public property.

The Legislature passed the measure, which was a response to a 2018 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled it was cruel and unusual to punish the homeless who sleep outside when there are not enough shelter beds available.

Once the bill becomes law, local governments must re-write their ordinances to be in line with that ruling.