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Heated hearing on bill to broaden indecent‑exposure law draws opposition from advocacy groups and defense counsel
Summary
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle told the House Judiciary Committee House Bill 4‑46 would update Montana’s indecent exposure law to make it chargeable in public places and to link the statute to the state Constitution’s protection of human dignity.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle opened the hearing on House Bill 4‑46 saying the bill would update Montana’s indecent exposure law and make clear the offense can be charged in public places.
“Subsection 4 of the bill makes it clear that indecent exposure can be a chargeable offense in public places,” Hinkle said. He framed the change as protecting the dignity of victims and aligning statutes with Article II, Section 4 of the Montana Constitution.
Why it matters: The hearing turned into a prolonged dispute about statutory language and constitutional values. Opponents — including domestic‑violence and civil‑rights groups, health‑care providers and defense counsel — said the bill’s drafting could remove the mental‑state requirement for some prosecutions and disproportionately affect transgender and non‑binary people who use public restrooms and locker rooms.
Oppositio…
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