Georgia Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Homeless Policies

Advocates fear the new law could lead to more homeless people being jailed

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:11pm

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A park bench at dusk, with warm light and deep shadows, conveying the loneliness and isolation of homelessness in an urban setting.A quiet, contemplative scene that captures the human toll of policies that criminalize homelessness rather than address its underlying causes.Atlanta Today

Georgia lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow property owners to file claims against local governments if they believe policies banning public camping, loitering, and panhandling, as well as limits on cooperation with federal immigration authorities, were not enforced. The bill's sponsor says it's important to hold cities accountable, but Democrats and homelessness advocates argue it will criminalize homelessness and lead to frivolous lawsuits.

Why it matters

This bill is part of a broader effort by Georgia lawmakers to crack down on homelessness and immigration, which critics say will make it harder to address the root causes of these issues. The potential for lawsuits could also discourage local governments from implementing policies aimed at helping the homeless population.

The details

The bill would allow property owners to demand compensation from local governments if they believe policies banning public camping, loitering, panhandling, and limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities were not enforced. Supporters say this will hold cities accountable, while opponents argue it will lead to the arrest of homeless individuals and frivolous lawsuits paid for by taxpayers.

  • The Georgia legislature passed the bill early Friday morning.
  • The bill now heads to Republican Governor Brian Kemp for his signature.

The players

Rep. Houston Gaines

The Athens Republican and U.S. House candidate who sponsored the bill, arguing it's important to hold cities accountable for enforcing the law.

Jesse Rabinowitz

The campaign and communications director with the National Homelessness Law Center, who called the bill "ineffective, cruel, and makes it harder to solve homelessness."

Sen. Josh McLaurin

The Democratic state senator who called the bill "nuclear bad policy" and said it would lead to a "circus in court" with "spurious claims" about property values.

Justin Kirnon

An Atlanta city employee who said homelessness is not an "issue that you can just police your way out of."

Sen. Clint Dixon

The Republican state senator who said that when local authorities "choose ideology over enforcement, it sends a message that our laws are optional, and when laws are optional, public safety suffers."

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What they’re saying

“Allowing illegal encampments, theft and disorder to flourish is not kindness. It's neglect.”

— Rep. Houston Gaines, Bill Sponsor

“This bill is ineffective, cruel, and makes it harder to solve homelessness. It's also a thinly veiled attempt by lawmakers to score cheap political points on the backs of immigrant communities.”

— Jesse Rabinowitz, Campaign and Communications Director, National Homelessness Law Center

“What you're inviting is a bunch of court cases where homeowners who are aggrieved at the local government can come make spurious claims about causation and have essentially a circus in court, which wastes judges' time, it wastes juryies time.”

— Sen. Josh McLaurin, Democratic State Senator

“We all agree a lot of things have to be done on this topic, but this isn't the right approach. This essentially turns the city's general fund into a refund pool for any property owner that is dissatisfied with law enforcement's outcomes when it comes to these particular matters.”

— Justin Kirnon, Atlanta City Employee

“When local governing authorities choose ideology over enforcement, it sends a message that our laws are optional, and when laws are optional, public safety suffers.”

— Sen. Clint Dixon, Republican State Senator

What’s next

Governor Kemp must decide whether to sign the bill into law. If signed, the new law could face legal challenges from civil rights groups and homelessness advocates.

The takeaway

This bill reflects a broader political debate in Georgia over how to address homelessness and immigration, with proponents arguing for stricter enforcement and critics saying the approach will criminalize vulnerable populations rather than address the root causes. The potential for lawsuits could discourage local governments from implementing policies aimed at helping the homeless.