STOP GOVERNMENT SEX SHOWS ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Balkema

Prohibits live adult performances on publicly owned property by local govs or school districts; withholds all state funds from violators; preempts home rule; effective immediately.

Referred to Assignments

Quick overview

Purpose: Prohibit government-sponsored live adult performances on publicly owned or operated property under local government or school district control; empower the state to withhold funding from violators; limit home rule authority in this area.

Introduced: February 28, 2025 (Sen. Chris Balkema)

Current status: Referred to Assignments (as introduced); subsequent actions show readings and referrals to committees.

Effective date: Immediate upon becoming law.

What the bill would do

Core prohibition: A unit of local government or a school district may not allow a live adult performance on property that it owns or operates.

Enforcement mechanism: The State must stop distributing all funds to any local government unit or school district that violates the prohibition.

Scope of prohibition: Applies to live performances that involve adult content, with specific definitions covering nudity, semi-nudity, and acts of sexual conduct or acts appealing to the prurient interest of persons under 18.

Definitions central to the bill:

Live adult performance: Any live show featuring nudity/semi-nudity, sexual acts or conduct as defined by the Criminal Code, or entertainment appealing to under-18 prurient interests (e.g., strippers, exotic dancing, vogue-type performances).
Nudity/Sem Nudity: Specific thresholds for what constitutes nudity or semi-nudity, including exposure of genitals, breasts, or areola.

Fund withholding: The enforcement mechanism relies on halting state funds to violators, effectively sanctioning noncompliant localities and school districts financially.

Key provisions and structural aspects

Section 10 — Prohibition and funding consequence:

(a) Local governments and school districts may not permit live adult performances on publicly owned or operated property under their control.
(b) The State must cease distributing all funds to a unit of local government or school district that violates the prohibition.

Section 15 — Home rule preemption:

Home rule units may not regulate live adult performances in a manner inconsistent with this Act.
This serves as a constitutional limitation on concurrent state/local powers in this area.

Section 999 — Effective date:

The Act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Who/what is affected

Directly affected: Illinois units of local government and school districts that manage public property where performances could occur.

Indirect effects: Potential impact on municipal/school district budgets due to loss of state funding if violations occur; enhanced protection against public exposure to explicit performances on government property.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: Feb 28, 2025 (LRB104…RTM…b)

First readings/initial actions: Listed as read/assigned upon introduction; subsequent actions show March 13, 2025, with first-time readings and referrals noted (e.g., to Natural Resources).

Current status in summary: Referred to Assignments with ongoing committee consideration; subject to further amendments and floor action.

This summary reflects the introduced text and stated provisions. If enacted, the bill would significantly alter how local governments and school districts regulate performances on public property and how state funding interacts with compliance.

Bill