Freedom News

The Naturist Action Committee won a hard fight in Texas today, defeating a bill that was needlessly worded wrong. As was reported:

Dear Naturist:

The Naturist Action Committee (NAC) declares victory in the fight against a legislative bill that threatened naturists in the state of Texas.

Texas House Bill 1466 attempted statewide regulation of sexually oriented businesses. The bill's broad primary definition would have included naturist and nudist parks, camps and resorts. Any other business (like a health club or bowling alley) that might be rented or used temporarily for naturist activities could also have been defined as a sexually oriented business.

With help from NAC and NAC's professional legislative lobbyist, House Bill 1466 found itself mired in committee. The bill is dead.

DISCUSSION

Rep. Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) was the sponsor of HB 1466. First elected in 2002 with the help of money from the political action group of discredited former Congressman Tom DeLay, Rep. Zedler has enjoyed success with a number of his bills.

The threat to naturists from House Bill 1466 was frightening and easy to understand. To the customary list of sexually oriented business definitions, HB 1466 added "any other commercial enterprise ... whose employees or customers appear in a state of nudity."

Not only would the definition have applied to every naturist and nudist park in the state, it would have included gyms, spas and pools with changing rooms.

WHAT HAS NAC BEEN DOING ABOUT THIS BILL?

Immediately after House Bill 1466 was filed, the Naturist Action Committee hired a professional Texas legislative lobbyist for assistance and advice. While working behind the scenes to kill the bill, NAC and its lobbyist also developed and presented revised language for HB 1466.

NAC considered it essential to assure that naturist resorts and parks in Texas would not be considered "sexually oriented businesses." At the same time, NAC saw it as equally important that other commercial venues would not be discouraged from allowing naturist usage, out of concern for being labeled as "sexually oriented businesses." The revised language that NAC developed was based on conditions of usage, and not on organizational affiliation.

On February 21, 2007, the Naturist Action Committee issued a NAC Advisory concerning House Bill 1466. The text of that Advisory is archived on the Web site of the Naturist Action Committee.

Some legislation is best dealt with quietly, and House Bill 1466 is an example. In this instance, NAC chose not to call for the sort of grass roots action that can be so very effective in other situations.

WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO?

This is an update and an announcement of a specific victory. The Naturist Action Committee is NOT asking you to take action at this time. The threat from House Bill 1466 is gone, but those who introduce such legislation are not. Please watch for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on other topics of interest to naturists.

MORE INFORMATION

You can access additional information on the Web site of the Naturist Action Committee.

www.naturistaction.org

Select "Alerts, Advisories and Updates." Under Current Updates, you'll find the text of this NAC Advisory, along with links to the complete text of Texas House Bill 1466 and the NAC Advisory of February 21, 2007.

PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS

As the nonprofit volunteer political adjunct to The Naturist Society, the Naturist Action Committee is a vigorous force at work on behalf of naturists. NAC stands up for private naturist and nudist resorts, parks and camps, just as it champions the responsible clothing-optional use of public lands.

NAC does not hesitate to engage legislative lobbyists when it becomes necessary. But lobbyists are expensive. NAC relies entirely on your voluntary support. Please donate generously with a check to:

This is actually a good thing. May the Naturist Action Committee, and other groups that value our freedom as individuals, be equally successful.