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House committee advances bill restricting minors’ attendance at "drag story hour" and similar events
Summary
House Bill 675 (transcript shows as HB 6 75) drew sharp debate; sponsor said the bill protects children from sexualized performances while opponents called it an attack on LGBTQ+ expression and warned it would chill community arts and library programs. Committee recommended do pass.
Representative C. Hinkle sponsored the bill described in committee as a response to public concerns about minors attending “drag” performances. The sponsor argued the measure is aimed at events he described as sexualized and said it would create a private right of action and stronger definitions to prevent minors’ exposure to explicit performances.
Nut graf: supporters said the bill protects children and parental rights; opponents said it targets a form of performance art, would chill libraries and community programs, and risks discriminatory enforcement.
Representative Zephyr and other opponents called drag an art form and said many events labeled “drag story hour” are children’s reading programs; Zephyr warned the language would be used to target transgender people in schools and community centers. Representative C. Hinkle said the bill targets explicit or sexual conduct and cited images submitted in committee hearings as evidence. The sponsor described the proposal as a corrective “fix” to prior legislation and urged a do‑pass vote.
The committee recorded the motion to recommend do pass; the clerk recorded the vote and the motion carried (vote tally recorded in committee as passing). The transcript shows the bill advanced out of committee after debate.
Ending: The bill will proceed to the House floor where lawmakers will again confront competing claims about children’s exposure to performance art, parental rights and free speech.
