King, Williams Introduce Indecent Exposure Act

COLUMBUS – State Representative Angie King (R-Celina) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) have introduced legislation to update Ohio’s obscenity laws and protect children and families from sexualized performances taking place in public spaces.

The Indecent Exposure Act will protect children from being exposed to obscene or sexualized performances in public spaces. This legislation is a reintroduction of House Bill 245 with newly added language to narrow the focus of the legislation and achieve the goal of protecting children.

“I am deeply committed to protecting our children,” said King. “As a mother and as a legislator, I believe Ohio families should feel safe taking their children to a city park without the risk of coming across an event or person performing in a way that incorporates themes, imagery, and acts intended for mature audiences.”

“We are seeing trends of indecent exposure and over-sexualized performances taking place in public in the presence of children,” said Williams. “Representative King and I and many other Ohioans don’t agree with these acts taking place in the open. This legislation is simply updating already existing law to the times that we are living in. So, we want to update the obscenity law so we can ensure families and children are protected from these acts.”

The Indecent Exposure Act also establishes penalties for the violations that vary from a misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony based on the circumstance in which the crime occurs. 

The legislation has not been assigned a bill number or to a House committee yet.