The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 1702 criminalizes adult cabaret performances on public property and near minors
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Mazzie Christensen
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 1702 establishes the new criminal offense of engaging in an performance on public property or where it can be viewed by a minor, punishable as a class A misdemeanor or class E felony for repeat offenses. The legislation also updates definitions and statutory provisions relating to sexually oriented businesses, adult cabarets, and obscenity across multiple Missouri statutes.
The measure alters criminal penalties and operating definitions for adult entertainment businesses and performers throughout Missouri, establishing statewide ion over local ordinances that conflict with its restrictions.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
operators and employees of sexually oriented businesses
Sexually oriented businesses and their workers face updated statutory definitions, advertising limits near highways, and modified nuisance closure criteria.
adult cabaret performers
Performers are subject to new criminal penalties if performing on public property or in locations viewable by non-adults.
political subdivisions
Local governments are preempted from enforcing existing or future ordinances that conflict with the state statute.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What constitutes the new criminal offense under HB 1702?
How does this bill affect local city or county ordinances?
What are the penalties for violating the adult cabaret performance restrictions?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
State Preemption of Local Ordinances
The bill explicitly strips political subdivisions of the authority to enforce local rules governing adult cabaret performances that conflict with state law.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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