Missouri Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill Banning Lap Dances

CARTHAGE, Mo. — A Missouri lawmaker intends to reintroduce a controversial statewide adult-regulation bill, which includes the ban of lap dances, among other things, during the 2009 legislative session.

The bill, which failed to pass after it was introduced mid-session in 2008 by Rep. Ed Emery, R — Lamar, proposes not only to ban lap dances, but also to enforce stricter distance regulations and remove doors and other obstructions from video-store viewing booths and strip clubs, among other things.

Under these regulations, dancers would have to “remain on a fixed stage at least six feet from all patrons and at least 18 inches from the floor in a room of at least 600 square feet,” and strip clubs would have to be located at least 1,000 feet from churches, parks, schools and daycare facilities, according to the bill.

“The main thing, and I think the most powerful part of the legislation is the way it opens up the businesses so you can’t hide from view,” Emery said. “You can go into these quote ‘viewing booths’ unquote and watch your pornography, and what other states have found is if you have a combination of taking the doors off these viewing areas and ensuring that employees can always see into these areas, that helps prevent problems, and that’s part of what the bill does.”

Emery, who says the bill failed to pass in 2008 because its mid-session entrance prevented it from getting “a fair hearing,” says he is confident the bill will pass this year.

The 2009 legislative session runs from Jan. 7 through mid-May.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

CORRECTION: Pornhub to Remain Live in Ohio, Despite AV Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo will not block access to its websites in Ohio, despite new state age verification rules that came into effect Sept. 30.

Judge Dismisses Some Claims in 'Children of Pornhub' Trafficking Suit

A United States district judge on Friday dismissed some but not all claims against Aylo in a long-running case involving CSAM allegations featured in the influential 2020 New York Times article “The Children of Pornhub.”

Pornhub Shuts Down Access in Ohio Over Age Verification

Aylo began geoblocking Pornhub across the state of Ohio on Tuesday, as the state’s age verification law goes into effect.

Arcom to Expand AV Enforcement to Smaller Adult Sites

The president of French media regulator Arcom revealed on Thursday that the agency plans to escalate its enforcement of age verification rules to include smaller adult sites, starting in late 2025 or early 2026.

Pornhub to Shut Down Access in Arizona Over Age Verification

Aylo will geoblock Pornhub across Arizona starting Sept. 26, when the state’s age verification law, HB 2112, goes into effect.

French Telecoms Mogul Ignites AV Firestorm With Free VPN, Sarcastic Tweet

French billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of telecommunications giant Iliad, sparked a heated debate this week when he appeared to admit that the company's Free Mobile wireless carrier integrated no-cost VPN into its service specifically to circumvent age verification restrictions on adult content.

UPDATED: Michigan Legislators Propose Online Porn Ban

Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it illegal to distribute pornography via the internet in the state.

EU Advocate General: France Can Require Foreign Sites to Implement AV

An advocate general of the European Union’s Court of Justice on Thursday advised the court to rule that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU states to implement age verification in accordance with French law.

Florida AG Sues Aylo, Segpay Over State AV Law

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed lawsuits against Aylo and Segpay on Monday with the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for noncompliance with HB3, the state's age verification law.

Colombian Court Sides with Performer Esperanza Goméz Over IG Suspensions

Colombia’s Constitutional Court last week ruled in favor of adult performer Esperanza Gómez in her legal battle against Meta over repeated suspensions of her Instagram account.

Show More