House Lawmakers Pitch $10 Cover Charge at NC Strip Clubs to Help Sexual Assault Survivors
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC House reps and domestic violence advocates rolled out House Bill 1121 – the “Added Fee for Sexually Oriented Businesses.” This bipartisan banger would slap a $10 entry or cover fee on every patron walking into strip clubs and adult venues that serve alcohol and feature live nude entertainment.
All of the money will go to the state’s Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Center Fund to help survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
‘NC POLE TAX’
They’re calling it the pole tax for a reason – and it’s modeled straight off Texas’ 2007 law (which started at $5 and jumped to $10 by 2023). Now North Carolina wants in on the action to fix a major funding crunch.
Rep. Monika Johnson-Hostler (D-Wake), the bill’s lead sponsor and former head of the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault, didn’t hold back at the press conference:
“Every day, programs across our state answer hotline calls, provide emergency shelter, offer legal advocacy and help survivors rebuild their lives… But too often, these programs are forced to do this life-saving work with limited and uncertain resources… Let’s be honest about what that means when a survivor is asked to wait or is turned away. The risk doesn’t pause, the danger doesn’t stop, and the consequences can be fatal.”
Rep. Dennis Riddell (R-Alamance) also spoke as bipartisan:
“What that bill will do is levy a fee upon adult venue businesses where alcohol is served, to be charged per entry. That money would be used only for domestic violence systems and groups around the state.”
Carianne Fisher, Executive Director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, backed it too, stressing how rape crisis centers and shelters are slammed beyond capacity after losing federal dollars.
The bill is already assigned to the House Judiciary 1 Committee. If it passes, that $10 fee hits every qualifying club in the state . Club owners haven’t spoken publicly yet (we’ll keep you posted).
