1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote NO on House Bill 249 now that it has moved to the Senate. As an engaged voter, I find the language of this legislation to be dangerously vague. By framing "indecency" around conduct that might "affront others," this bill invites subjective enforcement based on individual opinions rather than objective harm. We should not be legislating based on who might feel "affronted" by an artist’s expression; in a free society, those individuals have the perfectly valid option of simply not attending events that do not interest them. Furthermore, this bill is a redundant and unnecessary use of legislative time and taxpayer resources. Ohio already has robust obscenity and child protection laws (ORC 2907.01) that effectively cover actual obscenity. HB 249 is clearly an attempt to diminish art and target specific communities based on narrow viewpoints, rather than a genuine effort to improve public safety. The chilling effect this bill would have on Ohio’s vibrant arts and culture scene is a direct threat to our state's reputation and economic growth. I ask that you prioritize the constitutional rights of all Ohioans and reject this overreaching legislation. I look forward to hearing your position on this bill and how you intend to vote.