Bibliography: State Sexuality Laws Research Database

Research Information

Compiled: August 18, 2025

Total States Researched: 49

Research Methodology: Comprehensive analysis of state statutes, legal databases, government reports, and academic sources

Sources by State

Alabama

• Alabama Code Title 13A (Criminal Code). (2024). Alabama Legislature. https://www.legislature.state.al.us/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Alabama state profile: Sexual health education laws and policies. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/policy/pdf/summary_report_factsheets/Alabama.pdf
• FindLaw. (2024). Alabama prostitution laws. Thomson Reuters. https://www.findlaw.com/state/alabama-law/alabama-prostitution-laws.html

Alaska

• Alaska Statutes Title 11 (Criminal Law). (2024). Alaska State Legislature. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Alaska state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/alaska
• Guttmacher Institute. (2024). Sex and HIV education state laws and policies: Alaska. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/sex-and-hiv-education

Arizona

• Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 (Criminal Code). (2024). Arizona State Legislature. https://www.azleg.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Arizona state profile: Sexual health education laws and policies. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/policy/pdf/summary_report_factsheets/Arizona.pdf
• Arizona Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.azed.gov/pe/health-education

Arkansas

• Arkansas Code Title 5 (Criminal Offenses). (2024). Arkansas General Assembly. https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Arkansas state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/arkansas
• Arkansas Department of Education. (2024). Health and physical education curriculum frameworks. https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/

California

• California Penal Code. (2024). California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
• Shouse California Law Group. (2025, January 25). Is prostitution ever legal in California? https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/blog/is-prostitution-legal-in-california/
• California Assembly Bill 3080. (2024). Age verification for internet pornography websites. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/
• ACLU of Southern California. (2024). Sex worker rights in California. https://www.aclusocal.org/en/know-your-rights/sex-worker-rights-california

Colorado

• Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18 (Criminal Code). (2024). Colorado General Assembly. https://leg.colorado.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Colorado state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/colorado
• Colorado Department of Education. (2024). Comprehensive health education standards. https://www.cde.state.co.us/

Connecticut

• Connecticut General Statutes Title 53a (Penal Code). (2024). Connecticut General Assembly. https://www.cga.ct.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Connecticut state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/connecticut
• Connecticut State Department of Education. (2024). Health education curriculum standards. https://portal.ct.gov/

Delaware

• Delaware Code Title 11 (Crimes and Criminal Procedure). (2024). Delaware General Assembly. https://legis.delaware.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Delaware state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/delaware
• Delaware Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.doe.k12.de.us/

District of Columbia

• District of Columbia Code Title 22, Chapter 27 (Prostitution; Pandering). (2025). Council of the District of Columbia. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/titles/22/chapters/27
• District of Columbia Code § 22-2701 (Engaging in prostitution or soliciting for prostitution). (2025). Council of the District of Columbia. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-2701
• District of Columbia Code § 22-2201 (Certain obscene activities and conduct declared unlawful). (2025). Council of the District of Columbia. https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-2201
• Ervin Kibria Law. (2025, March 11). Is prostitution legal in DC? Laws & penalties explained. https://ervinkibrialaw.com/is-prostitution-legal-in-dc/
• DC Zoning Handbook. (2024). District of Columbia Office of Zoning. https://handbook.dcoz.dc.gov/

Florida

• Florida Statutes Chapter 796 (Prostitution). (2024). Florida Legislature. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Florida state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/florida
• Florida Department of Education. (2024). Health education curriculum standards. https://www.fldoe.org/

Georgia

• Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 16 (Crimes and Offenses). (2024). Georgia General Assembly. http://www.legis.ga.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Georgia state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/georgia
• Georgia Department of Education. (2024). Health education performance standards. https://www.gadoe.org/

Hawaii

• Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 712 (Offenses Against Public Order). (2024). Hawaii State Legislature. https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Hawaii state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/hawaii
• Hawaii Department of Education. (2024). Health education content and performance standards. http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/

Idaho

• Idaho Code Title 18 (Crimes and Punishments). (2024). Idaho Legislature. https://legislature.idaho.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Idaho state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/idaho
• Idaho State Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.sde.idaho.gov/

Illinois

• Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5 (Criminal Code). (2024). Illinois General Assembly. https://www.ilga.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Illinois state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/illinois
• Illinois State Board of Education. (2024). Health education learning standards. https://www.isbe.net/

Indiana

• Indiana Code Title 35 (Criminal Law and Procedure). (2024). Indiana General Assembly. http://iga.in.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Indiana state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/indiana
• Indiana Department of Education. (2024). Health and wellness education standards. https://www.doe.in.gov/

Iowa

• Iowa Code Chapter 725 (Prostitution). (2024). Iowa Legislature. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Iowa state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/iowa
• Iowa Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://educateiowa.gov/

Kansas

• Kansas Statutes Chapter 21 (Crimes and Punishments). (2024). Kansas Legislature. http://www.kslegislature.org/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Kansas state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/kansas
• Kansas State Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.ksde.org/

Kentucky

• Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 529 (Prostitution and Related Offenses). (2024). Kentucky Legislature. https://legislature.ky.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Kentucky state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/kentucky
• Kentucky Department of Education. (2024). Health education program of studies. https://education.ky.gov/

Louisiana

• Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14 (Criminal Law). (2024). Louisiana Legislature. http://www.legis.la.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Louisiana state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/louisiana
• Louisiana Department of Education. (2024). Health education grade-level expectations. https://www.louisianabelieves.com/

Maine

• Maine Revised Statutes Title 17-A (Maine Criminal Code). (2024). Maine Legislature. http://legislature.maine.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Maine state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/maine
• Maine Department of Education. (2024). Health education and physical education standards. https://www.maine.gov/doe/

Maryland

• Maryland Code, Criminal Law Title 11 (Sex Offenses). (2024). Maryland General Assembly. http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Maryland state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/maryland
• Maryland State Department of Education. (2024). Health education curriculum. http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/

Massachusetts

• Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 (Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order). (2024). Massachusetts Legislature. https://malegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Massachusetts state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/massachusetts
• Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (2024). Health curriculum frameworks. http://www.doe.mass.edu/

Michigan

• Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 750 (Michigan Penal Code). (2024). Michigan Legislature. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Michigan state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/michigan
• Michigan Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.michigan.gov/mde

Minnesota

• Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609 (Criminal Code). (2024). Minnesota Legislature. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Minnesota state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/minnesota
• Minnesota Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://education.mn.gov/

Mississippi

• Mississippi Code Title 97 (Crimes). (2024). Mississippi Legislature. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Mississippi state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/mississippi
• Mississippi Department of Education. (2024). Health education curriculum frameworks. https://www.mdek12.org/

Missouri

• Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 567 (Prostitution). (2024). Missouri General Assembly. http://www.moga.mo.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Missouri state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/missouri
• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (2024). Health education grade-level expectations. https://dese.mo.gov/

Montana

• Montana Code Annotated Title 45 (Crimes). (2024). Montana Legislature. http://leg.mt.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Montana state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/montana
• Montana Office of Public Instruction. (2024). Health enhancement standards. http://opi.mt.gov/

Nebraska

• Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 28 (Crimes and Punishments). (2024). Nebraska Legislature. https://nebraskalegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Nebraska state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/nebraska
• Nebraska Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.education.ne.gov/

Nevada

• Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 201 (Crimes Against Public Decency and Good Morals). (2024). Nevada Legislature. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Nevada state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/nevada
• Nevada Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. http://www.doe.nv.gov/

New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Revised Statutes Title LXII (Criminal Code). (2024). New Hampshire General Court. http://gencourt.state.nh.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). New Hampshire state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/new-hampshire
• New Hampshire Department of Education. (2024). Health education curriculum guidelines. https://www.education.nh.gov/

New Jersey

• New Jersey Statutes Title 2C (The New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice). (2024). New Jersey Legislature. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). New Jersey state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/new-jersey
• New Jersey Department of Education. (2024). Comprehensive health and physical education standards. https://www.nj.gov/education/

New Mexico

• New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30 (Criminal Offenses). (2024). New Mexico Legislature. https://www.nmlegis.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). New Mexico state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/new-mexico
• New Mexico Public Education Department. (2024). Health education content standards. https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/

New York

• New York Penal Law Article 230 (Prostitution Offenses). (2024). New York State Legislature. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws
• FindLaw. (2024). New York prostitution laws. Thomson Reuters. https://www.findlaw.com/state/new-york-law/new-york-prostitution-laws.html
• New York State Assembly Bill A3946. (2025). Age verification for internet pornography websites. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3946
• New York Department of State. (2024). Legal memorandum LU03: Municipal regulation of adult uses. https://dos.ny.gov/legal-memorandum-lu03-municipal-regulation-adult-uses

North Carolina

• North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14 (Criminal Law). (2024). North Carolina General Assembly. https://www.ncleg.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). North Carolina state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/north-carolina
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (2024). Healthful living education standard course of study. https://www.dpi.nc.gov/

North Dakota

• North Dakota Century Code Title 12.1 (Criminal Code). (2024). North Dakota Legislative Assembly. https://www.legis.nd.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). North Dakota state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/north-dakota
• North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. (2024). Health education content standards. https://www.nd.gov/dpi/

Ohio

• Ohio Revised Code Title 29 (Crimes - Procedure). (2024). Ohio General Assembly. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Ohio state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/ohio
• Ohio Department of Education. (2024). Health education learning standards. http://education.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 (Crimes and Punishments). (2024). Oklahoma Legislature. http://www.oklegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Oklahoma state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/oklahoma
• Oklahoma State Department of Education. (2024). Health and safety education academic standards. https://sde.ok.gov/

Oregon

• Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 167 (Offenses Against Public Order). (2024). Oregon Legislative Assembly. https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Oregon state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/oregon
• Oregon Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.oregon.gov/ode/

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 18 (Crimes Code). (2024). Pennsylvania General Assembly. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Pennsylvania state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Department of Education. (2024). Health, safety and physical education standards. https://www.education.pa.gov/

Rhode Island

• Rhode Island General Laws Title 11 (Criminal Offenses). (2024). Rhode Island General Assembly. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Rhode Island state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/rhode-island
• Rhode Island Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.ride.ri.gov/

South Carolina

• South Carolina Code of Laws Title 16 (Crimes and Offenses). (2024). South Carolina Legislature. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). South Carolina state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/south-carolina
• South Carolina Department of Education. (2024). Health and safety education standards. https://ed.sc.gov/

South Dakota

• South Dakota Codified Laws Title 22 (Crimes). (2024). South Dakota Legislature. http://sdlegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). South Dakota state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/south-dakota
• South Dakota Department of Education. (2024). Health education content standards. https://doe.sd.gov/

Tennessee

• Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 (Criminal Offenses). (2024). Tennessee General Assembly. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Tennessee state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/tennessee
• Tennessee Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://www.tn.gov/education/

Utah

• Utah Code Title 76 (Utah Criminal Code). (2024). Utah State Legislature. https://le.utah.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Utah state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/utah
• Utah State Board of Education. (2024). Health education core standards. https://www.schools.utah.gov/

Vermont

• Vermont Statutes Title 13 (Crimes and Criminal Procedure). (2024). Vermont General Assembly. https://legislature.vermont.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Vermont state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/vermont
• Vermont Agency of Education. (2024). Health education standards. https://education.vermont.gov/

Virginia

• Code of Virginia Title 18.2 (Crimes and Offenses Generally). (2024). Virginia General Assembly. https://lis.virginia.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Virginia state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/virginia
• Virginia Department of Education. (2024). Health education standards of learning. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/

Washington

• Revised Code of Washington Title 9A (Washington Criminal Code). (2024). Washington State Legislature. http://leg.wa.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Washington state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/washington
• Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. (2024). Health and fitness learning standards. https://www.k12.wa.us/

West Virginia

• West Virginia Code Chapter 61 (Crimes and Their Punishment). (2024). West Virginia Legislature. http://www.wvlegislature.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). West Virginia state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/west-virginia
• West Virginia Department of Education. (2024). Health education content standards. https://wvde.us/

Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 944 (Crimes Against Sexual Morality and Decency). (2024). Wisconsin Legislature. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Wisconsin state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/wisconsin
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (2024). Health education standards. https://dpi.wi.gov/

Wyoming

• Wyoming Statutes Title 6 (Crimes and Offenses). (2024). Wyoming Legislature. https://www.wyoleg.gov/
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). Wyoming state profile. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/wyoming
• Wyoming Department of Education. (2024). Health education content and performance standards. https://edu.wyoming.gov/

General Reference Sources

Legal Databases and Government Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). School health policies and practices study: Sexual health education state profiles. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/policy/
• FindLaw. (2024). State prostitution laws. Thomson Reuters. https://www.findlaw.com/state/
• Guttmacher Institute. (2024). Sex and HIV education state laws and policies. https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/sex-and-hiv-education
• Justia. (2024). State criminal law codes and statutes. https://law.justia.com/codes/
• National Conference of State Legislatures. (2024). State policies on sex education in schools. https://www.ncsl.org/education/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools
• Sex Education Collaborative. (2024). State profiles: Sex education laws and policies. https://sexeducationcollaborative.org/states/

Legal Precedents and Court Cases

• Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973). [Obscenity standard]
• Young v. American Mini Theatres, 427 U.S. 50 (1976). [Adult business zoning]
• City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, 475 U.S. 41 (1986). [Secondary effects doctrine]
• Barnes v. Glen Theatre, 501 U.S. 560 (1991). [Adult entertainment regulation]

Academic and Research Sources

• American Civil Liberties Union. (2024). Sex worker rights and criminal justice reform. https://www.aclu.org/
• Human Rights Campaign. (2024). State equality index: LGBTQ+ policy assessments. https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/state-equality-index
• National Center for Health Statistics. (2024). Sexual behavior and health statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America. (2024). Sex education state laws and policies. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Methodology Notes

Data Collection Period: January 2024 - August 2025

</aside>

Primary Research Methods

• Systematic review of state statutory codes
• Analysis of current and proposed legislation
• Review of government agency reports and guidelines
• Examination of court decisions and legal precedents
• Cross-reference verification across multiple sources

Limitations

• Laws subject to frequent changes through legislative action
• Local ordinances may vary significantly within states
• Implementation and enforcement may differ from written policy
• Some sources may reflect proposed rather than enacted legislation

This bibliography follows APA 7th Edition style guidelines. All sources were accessed and verified during the research period. For the most current legal information, consult official state legal databases and recent legislative updates.