State lawmakers in the Oklahoma House of Representatives are advancing legislation that would require strippers to obtain a state-issued license and raise the minimum age to perform in adult entertainment venues from 18 to 21.

House Bill 3832, titled the “Entertainer Safety and Verification Act,” was introduced by Republican Rep. Stan May of Broken Arrow. The measure cleared the House Business Committee this week with bipartisan and unanimous support.

If enacted, the bill would require all “exotic entertainers” working in sexually oriented businesses to be licensed by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, commonly known as ABLE. The commission would also be responsible for developing rules governing the licensing process.

The Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission, commonly known as ABLE, is the state agency responsible for enforcing Oklahoma’s liquor laws and regulating businesses that sell or serve alcohol.

ABLE oversees:

• Licensing for bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and other alcohol-related businesses
• Enforcement of state alcohol laws
• Compliance checks and investigations
• Administrative hearings and penalties for violations

The agency’s enforcement division has the authority to conduct inspections, issue citations, and suspend or revoke licenses.

Under this new proposal, applicants must be at least 21 years old, compared with the current legal minimum of 18. They must also be U.S. citizens or legal residents and have no convictions related to human trafficking, prostitution, or indecent exposure.

Proof of identity, including a government-issued photo identification, would be required. Information submitted to ABLE would be kept confidential, with limited exceptions for law enforcement.

Performers who work without a license could face misdemeanor charges, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to one year in county jail, or both. Subsequent violations would carry fines of up to $1,000 and the same potential jail time.

Businesses that employ unlicensed entertainers or fail to maintain required records would face administrative fines of $5,000 per violation. Repeat violations could result in fines of $10,000 and suspension of all ABLE-issued licenses for at least one year.

The bill also outlines criminal penalties for owners and managers. A first offense could be prosecuted as a felony, carrying a fine of up to $1,000 and a prison sentence of one to three years. Subsequent violations would increase the penalty to a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of two to five years. Those convicted would be barred from owning or operating adult entertainment venues that feature licensed dancing.

Supporters say the legislation is intended to address concerns about human trafficking within the industry.

“We are going to require the identifications,” May said during the committee discussion. “Whether you agree with those places or not, we should all agree people participating should be doing it of their own free will and not being trafficked from another state or country.”

A companion measure, Senate Bill 1284, has been filed in the Oklahoma State Senate by Sen. Warren Hamilton of McCurtain. That bill, known as the “Exotic Entertainer Licensing Act,” similarly proposes licensing requirements and raising the minimum age to 21. Both measures are scheduled to take effect Nov. 1 if approved.

Law enforcement agencies have declined to publicly comment in detail on the pending legislation, though lawmakers said the proposal was requested by police departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Across the country, regulation of adult entertainers varies widely. Some states leave oversight to local governments, while others have adopted statewide licensing rules. In Florida, lawmakers previously raised the minimum age for dancers in adult clubs from 18 to 21 and attached criminal penalties for violations.

The measures are expected to continue moving through the legislative process in the coming weeks.