Downtown Spokane Partnership has come out in opposition of House Bill 1380, which, according to a press release from DSP, would effectively legalize sitting, lying, and camping on public property statewide, including in Spokane.

“HB 1380 not only risks the health and welfare of our community when we can no longer regulate and manage our public spaces, it also risks the very resources our community is investing in solutions to support the unhoused,” says Emilie Cameron, president & CEO of DSP, in the release.

If passed, any city, county, or town law that regulates the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property must be objectively reasonable to time, place, or manner, the bill reads.

Additionally, a person may file a lawsuit to challenge the objective reasonableness of a city, county, or town law.

“Sitting, lying, and camping on the sidewalks and underpasses of downtown creates conditions that prevent access, impede business, and render our sidewalks impassable,” Cameron says. “Spokane must be able to ensure our public spaces are safe and accessible while it continues to invest in housing and services to get people the help they need.”

The intention of the proposal, as described in the bill, includes encouraging the use of state and local resources by providing clear guidance to local governments on how to balance public safety with the urgent need to transition people experiencing homelessness to safe and stable housing.

A public hearing for the bill in the House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled for Feb. 12.

DSP is a private, nonprofit membership organization that advocates for the city’s core and provides supplemental security and cleaning services to businesses operating in the Business Improvement District.