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Hamburg, Iowa —
The Iowa Legislature is moving forward in efforts to change the indecent exposure law.
Monday, the State Senate passed an amended version of the law which would prohibit minors performing nude in theaters.
Previously the law made theaters and similar establishments exempt from the indecent exposure law. The new law would still have an exemption for adults performing, but not for minors performing.
Fremont County Attorney Margaret Johnson was instrumental in helping push the legislation through, even helping in drafting it.
She said until the last several weeks, the bill had been “stuck” in committees and not moving forward. Then the national media latched on to the topic and helped get the ball rolling again.
Johnson said it was her parents who first told her of the extended national coverage the matter was receiving.
“FOXNews started calling people and got it unstuck,” she said.
Johnson was also interviewed by FOX News staffers about the law several days after the first report, which her parents saw.
“It’s probably because of all the publicity that it got pushed through,” she said.
The push to change the law stems from a Hamburg incident where a 17-year-old entered Shotgun Geniez and danced nude. In an ensuing criminal court case, the club owner, Clarence Judy, was found not guilty under the theater exemption to the state statute.
Before becoming law, the bill must pass in the State House of Representatives. Local Representative Rich Anderson has been vocally in favor of the bill.
Tuesday afternoon Anderson reported the bill had been assigned to the House Public Safety committee.
“I have been told the bill will pass out of that committee and then be placed on the House debate calendar. It could be debated and voted on by the House as early as Monday,” he said.
Anderson said since the FOXNews report, a strip club owner from eastern Iowa heard the report and has come forward to help get the bill passed.
“It should pass with strong support,” Anderson said.
The Iowa Legislature is moving forward in efforts to change the indecent exposure law.
Monday, the State Senate passed an amended version of the law which would prohibit minors performing nude in theaters.
Previously the law made theaters and similar establishments exempt from the indecent exposure law. The new law would still have an exemption for adults performing, but not for minors performing.
Fremont County Attorney Margaret Johnson was instrumental in helping push the legislation through, even helping in drafting it.
She said until the last several weeks, the bill had been “stuck” in committees and not moving forward. Then the national media latched on to the topic and helped get the ball rolling again.
Johnson said it was her parents who first told her of the extended national coverage the matter was receiving.
“FOXNews started calling people and got it unstuck,” she said.
Johnson was also interviewed by FOX News staffers about the law several days after the first report, which her parents saw.
“It’s probably because of all the publicity that it got pushed through,” she said.
The push to change the law stems from a Hamburg incident where a 17-year-old entered Shotgun Geniez and danced nude. In an ensuing criminal court case, the club owner, Clarence Judy, was found not guilty under the theater exemption to the state statute.
Before becoming law, the bill must pass in the State House of Representatives. Local Representative Rich Anderson has been vocally in favor of the bill.
Tuesday afternoon Anderson reported the bill had been assigned to the House Public Safety committee.
“I have been told the bill will pass out of that committee and then be placed on the House debate calendar. It could be debated and voted on by the House as early as Monday,” he said.
Anderson said since the FOXNews report, a strip club owner from eastern Iowa heard the report and has come forward to help get the bill passed.
“It should pass with strong support,” Anderson said.
