unlawful exposure; minors; drag show
HB 2589 makes it a class 4 felony to knowingly allow a minor under one's custody or control to view a drag show performance, enter a venue hosting such a performance, or perform a drag show in front of a minor. The bill defines "drag show performance" as in-person shows featuring exaggerated gender expression, sexual content, or material deemed "harmful to minors" under existing law. It directly affects parents, guardians, venue operators, and performers who permit minors to attend or participate in such events. The law imposes criminal penalties for these specific actions, classifying violations as felonies with potential imprisonment.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Last action Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced Version
→
House Engrossed Version (02/25/2026)
·
3 edits
·
Feb 25, 2026
MINOR
The bill was amended to replace specific references to 'drag show performances' with the broader legal term 'adult oriented performances' and to align the definitions with existing obscenity laws. This change expands the bill's scope from targeting only drag shows to covering any performance that appeals to a prurient interest in sex or depicts sexual activities, thereby broadening the types of events subject to the new restrictions.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded from exclusively regulating drag shows to regulating all 'adult oriented performances' as defined by state obscenity standards.
DEFINITION
The specific definition of 'drag show performance' was removed and replaced with the statutory definition of 'adult oriented performance', which includes content appealing to a prurient interest in sex or depicting sexual activities.
SCOPE
The bill now applies to all adult oriented performances rather than being limited to drag shows, increasing the range of events that could be restricted.
REQUIREMENT
The language regarding the intent of the prohibited acts was changed from 'knowingly' doing them to 'intentionally' doing them.
Floor votes · House Feb 25, 2026
How they voted
31–22
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 60
Feb 25, 2026
D
Democratic27
81% Nay
R
Republican33
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
DPA
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
DP
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Michael Way
RRepublican
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