SB654 is Now CA. Law
On Oct. 10, 2025, Governor Signed Senate Bill 634 into California law which states in part….
“We are proud that California is the first state to provide protections to our front line services workers, medical and legal providers, and the non-profits doing the hard work to get people out of homelessness.”
Section 1(6) “Homelessness is disproportionately experienced by Black, Indigenous and other Groups ( like Neurodivergents) that have experienced historical and continued discrimination and excessive penalties related to homelessness..”
Section 1(7-11) “Arresting, fining and jailing people experiencing homelessness for the act of living outside and conducting the life-sustaining activities does not contribute to ending their homelessness…but adds additional barriers such as missing work and loosing income needed…missing critical health care appointments…loss of key property, including identification, birth certificates…essential services and public benefits.” … (12)…financial penalties... can increase debt, damage credit, and end in bench warrants that end in additional jail time…detracts from efforts to regain housing.
Section 2 11145.1(a) "(not withstanding any other law), a state agency shall not adopt any regulation or issue any policy…or enforce an existing regulation (ordinance)…that imposes civil or criminal penalties on a person who is homeless for any act immediately related to homelessness, or any act of basic survival, or on a person who is assisting (b) definitions: (1) “act immediately related to homelessness” means standing, sitting, laying or sleeping in a public place, including…a public street,or other outdoor area that is open to the public. (2) “act related to basic survival” including…possession of a tent or tarp, erection of a tent or tarp, eating or drinking, possessing and utilizing blankets or pillows, seeking shade, and other activities to protect oneself from the elements,”
Section 3 53069.44(a)"…a local jurisdiction shall not adopt a local ordinance, or enforce an existing ordinance that imposes civil or criminal penalties on a person who is homeless or any act immediately related to homelessness or any act related to basic survival, or on a person who is assisting a person who is homeless with any act related to basic survival.
Section 4. “The legislature finds and declares that ensuring a compassionate, evidence-based approach to ending homelessness is a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 3 of Articles XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, section 3 of this act, adding Section 53069.44 to the Government Code, applies to all cities, including charter cities.