A federal judge has blocked the state of Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 12, a law passed in 2023 that aimed to regulate drag performances. U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled that the measure is unconstitutional, citing the First Amendment’s protection of free speech. The law specifically sought to prohibit drag performers from engaging in suggestive dancing or wearing certain prosthetics on public property or in venues where children might be present.

The legal challenge centered on whether the state’s interest in protecting minors outweighed the expressive rights of performers. While the state argued the law was a necessary measure to regulate sexually oriented performances, the court found the language of the bill to be overly broad and a violation of constitutional rights. This ruling marks the second time the legislation has been struck down by a federal court. The state of Texas, led by Attorney General Ken Paxton, has faced repeated legal hurdles in its attempt to implement these restrictions. The ruling effectively prevents the state from applying the law as written while the legal process continues.