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Washington has enacted new legislation known as the Strippers’ Bill of Rights, making it the first state to give protections for workers in the adult entertainment industry.

Signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday, this legislation has introduced the most extensive protective measures for strippers across the nation, alongside provisions allowing adult entertainment venues to sell alcohol. Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, who proposed the law, said, “Strippers are workers, and they should be given the same rights and protections as any other labor force. If they are employed at a legal establishment in Washington, they deserve the safeguards that every worker is entitled to, including protection from exploitation, trafficking, and abuse.”

Central to the legislation are measures aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of strippers, including mandatory training for all employees on preventing sexual harassment, identifying and reporting human trafficking, de-escalating conflicts, and providing first aid. The law also mandates the presence of security personnel, the installation of keypad locks on dressing rooms, and the provision of panic buttons in areas where entertainers may find themselves alone with customers.

The legislation also introduces financial reforms, notably by capping the fees club owners can charge their entertainers. According to Madison Zack-Wu, campaign manager for Strippers Are Workers, this cap is set at $150 or 30% of a dancer’s earnings per shift, whichever is less, and eliminates late fees and other charges for unpaid balances.