SB 2334 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Camping, soliciting contributions, loitering; prohibit certain instances of and authorize removal of encampments.

SB 2334 bans camping on public streets, sidewalks, or within 1,000 feet of critical infrastructure (like roads or bridges) without authorization, treating violations as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $250. It requires 48-hour written or posted notice before enforcement actions and mandates humane removal of encampments on private property after notice. The bill also regulates public solicitation (requiring permits) and defines "aggressive panhandling" and "loitering" as crimes with fines, while requiring mental health/substance abuse evaluations for arrested individuals. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and does not yet affect public policy.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended from a committee substitute version to its final Senate-passed version, with several substantive changes to enforcement procedures, penalty limits, and effective dates. The most significant change is the addition of a repeal date of June 30, 2025, which means the bill will only be effective for a single day on July 1, 2025, before being automatically repealed. Several formatting and wording adjustments were made throughout the text, including changes to how certain provisions are presented and minor clarifications to enforcement language.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on prohibiting camping on public property and regulating property cleanup, but the effective date change significantly limits its operational window.

TIMELINE

Added a repeal date of June 30, 2025, meaning the bill will only be effective for one day starting July 1, 2025, before being automatically repealed.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed wording from 'refuses to identify himself or herself' to 'refuses to identify himself or herself and give a reasonably credible account of his or her presence and purpose' for clearer enforcement standards.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes including removal of extra spaces and adjustment of punctuation throughout the document.

Changed 'Section 1, Section 3, Section 4, or Section 5' to 'Section 1, Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5' for consistency in listing sections.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to strengthen enforcement of anti-camping and anti-panhandling laws while adding protections for individuals with mental health or substance abuse needs. Key changes include clarifying definitions of 'critical infrastructure' and 'camping,' creating new crimes for aggressive panhandling and loitering, and expanding the authority of local governments to clean private property and cemeteries when they pose public health risks.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new criminal offenses for aggressive panhandling and loitering, and broadened local government authority to address property conditions and encampments on both private property and perpetual care cemeteries.

DEFINITION

Changed 'critical infrastructure' from requiring designation by local authorities to explicitly including roads, bridges, utilities, and other facilities without requiring designation, while clarifying that camping is prohibited within 1,000 feet of these areas.

ENFORCEMENT

Created new crimes for aggressive panhandling (touching, obstructing, following, or threatening) and loitering in specific circumstances, with defined penalties including fines and jail time.

Added provisions allowing local governments to assess costs and penalties as liens against property, with enforcement through tax collection and property sale procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for law enforcement to provide actors an opportunity to identify themselves and explain their presence before arrest for loitering, and to evaluate individuals arrested for mental health and substance abuse needs.

Modified private property cleanup procedures to allow for streamlined processes for smaller properties (one acre or less) in municipalities with over 1,500 people, reducing notice periods and hearing requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified permit eligibility for solicitation to include disqualifications for prior convictions and permit revocations, with permits valid for three years and restricted to soliciting hours between sunrise and sunset.

SCOPE

Expanded local government authority to clean perpetual care cemeteries when they show signs of neglect, with reimbursement from cemetery trust funds and restrictions on using principal more than once every four years.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 7, 2025

How they voted

35–13

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 51

Feb 7, 2025

D Democratic16

1 Yea 13 Nay 2

81% Nay

R Republican35

34 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary A

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division B

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors