A state Senate Committee has passed a bill on a party line vote that would create a new $55 million Homeless Shelter and Services Fund.
The bill would also prohibit individuals from sleeping on state or local-government-owned lands and create new felonies for using and selling dangerous drugs and narcotics in homeless shelters.
Republican Rep. Matt Gress introduced the measure.
"People who are smoking fentanyl are not rational actors, or are hooked on meth. They are not making the best decisions for themselves. So that requires all of us to come together and recognize that we will need to step in and provide appropriate interventions," Gress said.
The bill has already passed the House and heads to another committee before going to the Senate floor.
