Legislation to ban sexually explicit drag shows from targeting children is set to finally receive a committee hearing this Wednesday in the Texas House.
With the bill moving so slowly this late in the session, however, it could be too late.
Senate Bill 12 authored by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R–Mineola) would restrict sexually explicit drag performances on public property and in front of a child. The legislation would make the act a Class A misdemeanor, and anyone who violates the law would be subject to up to $10,000 in fines per offense.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 20-11 over a month ago before being sent to the State Affairs Committee in the House. It has sat in that committee for nearly a month without action.
Now, in the final weeks of the session, the bill has been scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, May 10.
While the legislation to ban the explicit performances for children is a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas GOP, House Speaker Dade Phelan has not made any public comments on the issue. The ban was not one of Phelan’s named legislative priorities at the beginning of the session, and versions of the bill filed in the House have already died without a committee hearing.
The deadline for Senate bills to pass the House is May 23, leaving little time for the measure to be considered by the full body before the legislative session is over.
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