New York Lawmakers Propose Bill to Repeal Bathhouse Ban, Citing Modern Health Advances
New York state lawmakers, led by Sen. Erik Bottcher and Assemblymember Tony Simone, have introduced the Public Health Modernization Act to repeal a 1985 regulation that effectively banned adult saunas, commonly known as bathhouses. This move aims to replace outdated policies from the AIDS epidemic era with a modern regulatory framework that reflects current public health science. The legislation seeks to establish a licensing and oversight system for bathhouses, acknowledging advancements in HIV prevention and treatment. Bottcher emphasized that the science and prevention strategies have evolved significantly since the 1980s, making the old restrictions obsolete. The proposal aligns with actions taken by other cities, such as Minneapolis and San Francisco, which have revisited similar bans. 
