Oregon Democrats propose 'Right to Rest Act' decriminalizing public camping as homeless crisis surges

Oregon Democrats have put forward a bill that would decriminalize camping despite calls for help from residents already exasperated by the homelessness crisis in the state.

Oregon House Bill 3501, known as the Right to Rest Act, states that homeless individuals will have "a privacy interest and a reasonable expectation of privacy in any property belonging to the person, regardless of whether the property is located in a public space."

The bill also allows homeless individuals to sue for up to $1,000 if they are "harassed" or told to relocate.

The bill says that "persons experiencing homelessness" will "be permitted to use public spaces in the same manner as any other person without discrimination based on their housing status" and states that homeless individuals have a right to "move freely in public spaces without discrimination and time limitations that are based on housing status."

OREGON PAPER L...