HB 249 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act

HB 249 amends three sections of Ohio's Revised Code (2907.09, 2907.39, and 4301.25) to enact the "Indecent Exposure Modernization Act." The bill's abstract does not specify the exact changes to these code sections or the concrete policy modifications. Therefore, a detailed summary of the bill's provisions, affected parties, or key mechanisms cannot be provided based on the available abstract. The abstract only confirms the bill's purpose is to enact this specific modernization act through these code amendments.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 29, 2025 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 6 edits · Mar 25, 2026
MODERATE
This bill modernizes Ohio's indecency laws by clarifying definitions of adult entertainment venues and updating penalties to be more proportional to the severity of the offense and the age of the victim. It adds specific protections for gender identity, establishes stricter registration requirements for offenders in relationships with minors, and expands the list of establishments subject to age-restriction rules.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of regulated businesses to explicitly include 'adult cabaret performance' venues and clarifies that medical therapy spaces are exempt from adult entertainment regulations. It also broadens the definition of nudity to include female cleavage.
DEFINITION

Added new, specific definitions for 'adult cabaret performance,' 'adult entertainment establishment,' and 'sexual encounter establishment' to clarify which businesses are regulated.

Updated the definition of 'nudity' to explicitly include the showing of female cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering.

Clarified that establishments providing medically approved therapy, such as massage therapy, are not considered adult entertainment venues.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision requiring offenders who are ten or more years older than a minor victim and have prior convictions to be classified as tier I sex offenders.

Included explicit language protecting performers who exhibit a gender identity different from their biological sex from being classified as engaging in indecent conduct.

ENFORCEMENT

Adjusted penalty structures to create a tiered system where repeat offenses and incidents involving minors result in higher misdemeanor or felony charges.

Floor votes · House Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

6331
Passed
Total votes 94
Mar 26, 2026
D Democratic30
30 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican64
63 Yea 1 Nay
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Mar 26, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (63-31)
house
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
2 primary · 42 co-sponsors

Sponsors