Senate committee advances bill widening Idaho indecent-exposure law to cover medically or hormonally altered breasts

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee voted to send House Bill 270 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony and questions about whether the measure would close a gap in Idaho law or broaden criminal exposure of gender expression.

Representative Jeff Cornelis, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure would amend Idaho’s indecent-exposure statute to update the definitions of “willful” and “lewd” exposure and to make clear that breasts that have been medically or hormonally altered to appear female fall within the statute’s scope. “This simply, this bill just simply says, cover up when you're in public,” Cornelis said.

Supporters, including Nampa City Council Member Sebastian Griffin, said officers and local prosecutors have told them they lacked clear statutory authority to act in some recent public‑park incidents. “We have seen individuals exposing themselves in front of children,” Griffin said, recounting an event at Lakeview Park.…