Topless ban pulled on eve of NC House vote

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A bill that could send women to prison for publicly going topless has been sent back to a committee in the North Carolina legislature.

The Republican-backed measure had been scheduled for a vote Tuesday in the House. Buncombe Rep. Tim Moffitt said the delay would give time for consultations with Senate lawmakers.

The bill was a response to two topless rallies in Asheville. The bill would expand the state's indecent exposure law's definition of "private parts" to explicitly include the nipple. Exposure determined to be for sexual gratification would be a felony, punishable by six months in prison.

Breastfeeding mothers are exempted.

Moffitt said he is confident the bill will come up for a vote later in the legislative session.