Public Breastfeeding Laws by State
Click on your state to read the full statute, and read more about the issue of public breastfeeding here.
Alabama: "A mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be present."Alaska: "A municipality may not enact an ordinance that prohibits or restricts a woman breast-feeding a child in a public or private location where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be. In a municipal ordinance, "lewd conduct," "lewd touching," "immoral conduct," "indecent conduct," and similar terms do not include the act of a woman breast-feeding a child in a public or private location where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be."
Arizona: "A mother is entitled to breast-feed in any area of a public place or a place of public accommodation where the mother is otherwise lawfully present."
Arkansas: "A woman may breastfeed a child in a public place or any place where other individuals are present."
California: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present."
Colorado (.pdf): "A mother may breastfeed in any place she has a right to be."
Connecticut: "No person may restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child."
Delaware: "Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a mother shall be entitled to breast-feed her child in any location of a place of public accommodation wherein the mother is otherwise permitted."
Florida: "A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."
Georgia: "The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be."
Hawaii: "It is a discriminatory practice to deny, or attempt to deny, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodations to a woman because she is breastfeeding a child."
Idaho: No public breastfeeding laws.
Illinois: "A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding; however, a mother considering whether to breastfeed her baby in a place of worship shall comport her behavior with the norms appropriate in that place of worship."
Indiana: "Notwithstanding any other law, a woman may breastfeed her child anywhere the woman has a right to be."
Iowa: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a woman may breast-feed the woman's own child in any public place where the woman's presence is otherwise authorized."
Kansas (.pdf): "A mother may breastfeed in any place she has a right to be."
Kentucky (.pdf): "Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, a mother may breast-feed her baby or express breast milk in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be. Breast-feeding a child or expressing breast milk as part of breast-feeding shall not be considered an act of public indecency and shall not be considered indecent exposure, sexual conduct, lewd touching, or obscenity... No person shall interfere with a mother breast-feeding her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be."
Louisiana: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a mother may breastfeed her baby in any place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement... It is a discriminatory practice in connection with public accommodations for a person to deny an individual the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement, as defined in this Chapter, on the grounds that the individual is a mother breastfeeding her baby. This discriminatory practice in connection with public accommodations is prohibited."
Maine: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast-feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be."
Maryland: A mother may breast-feed her child in any public or private location in which the mother and child are authorized to be. A person may not restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child.
Massachusetts: "A mother may breastfeed her child in any public place or establishment or place which is open to and accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public and where the mother and her child may otherwise lawfully be present. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the act of a mother breastfeeding her child, and any exposure of a breast incidental thereto that is solely for the purpose of nursing such child, shall not be considered lewd, indecent, immoral, or unlawful conduct. No person or entity, including a governmental entity, shall... restrict, harass or penalize a mother who is breastfeeding her child."
Michigan: "A mother's breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstances constitute nudity irrespective of whether or not the nipple is covered during or incidental to the feeding."
Minnesota: "A mother may breast-feed in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast-feeding."
Mississippi: "A mother may breast-feed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, without respect to whether the mother's breast or any part of it is covered during or incidental to the breast-feeding."
Missouri: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a mother may, with as much discretion as possible, breast-feed her child in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be."
Montana: "A mother has a right to breastfeed the mother's child in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be present, irrespective of whether or not the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."
Nebraska: No public breastfeeding laws.
Nevada: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast feed her child in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding."
New Hampshire: "Breast-feeding a child does not constitute an act of indecent exposure and to restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child is discriminatory."
New Jersey: "Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a mother shall be entitled to breastfeed her baby in any location of a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement wherein the mother is otherwise permitted."
New Mexico: "A mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be present."
New York: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding."
North Carolina: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breast feed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding."
North Dakota (.pdf): No public breastfeeding laws. The bill SB 2344, currently under consideration by North Dakota State Senate, states as of 3/13/09: "If the woman acts in a discreet and modest manner, a woman may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be."
Ohio: "A mother is entitled to breast-feed her baby in any location of a place of public accommodation wherein the mother otherwise is permitted."
Oklahoma (.rtf): "...a mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be. Breast-feeding shall not constitute a violation of any provision of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes [indecency laws]."
Oregon: "A woman may breast-feed her child in a public place."
Pennsylvania: " A mother shall be permitted to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be present, irrespective of whether or not the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."
Rhode Island: "A woman may feed her child by bottle or breast in any place open to the public."
South Carolina: "A woman may breastfeed her child in any location where the mother and her child are authorized to be. Breastfeeding a child in a location where the mother is authorized to be is not considered indecent exposure."
South Dakota: "This term ["harmful to minors"] does not include a mother's breast-feeding of her baby."
Tennessee (.pdf): " A mother has a right to breastfeed her child who is twelve (12) months of age or younger in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be present."
Texas: "A mother is entitled to breast-feed her baby in any location in which the mother is authorized to be."
Utah: "The county legislative body may not prohibit a woman's breast feeding in any location where she otherwise may rightfully be, irrespective of whether the breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast feeding."
Vermont: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any place of public accommodation in which the mother and child would otherwise have a legal right to be."
Virginia: "No person shall be deemed to be in violation of [indecent exposure laws] for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present."
Washington: "The act of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk is not indecent exposure."
West Virginia: No public breastfeeding laws.
Wisconsin (.pdf): "[Indecency law] does not apply to a mother's breast-feeding of her child."
Wyoming: "The act of breastfeeding an infant child, including breastfeeding in any place where the woman may legally be, does not constitute public indecency."
Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended to help you understand the general issue and should not be construed as legal advice.
