HELENA (AP) — Cities and counties could enact tougher obscenity ordinances than state law under a bill the House endorsed Wednesday.

The measure by Rep. Ron Stoker, R-Darby, would give local governments that authority only when the ordinances apply to children. It was endorsed, 66-34, with a final vote scheduled Thursday.

Rep. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, said tougher obscenity laws are needed, adding state law currently allows a “loophole for perverts.”

“If you want your children or your grandchildren to have perverts showing them pornography and obscenity in order to lower their inhibitions so that pervert can legally use them, abuse them and destroy them for life, then go ahead and vote ‘no’ on this bill,” he said.

Rep. John Sinrud, R-Bozeman, said cities and counties can already enact stricter water and sewer laws than the state. He argued the same guidelines should apply to obscenity.

Rep. Dave Gallik, D-Helena, worried the bill would create a patchwork of obscenity laws around the state.

“The ones who don’t end up (passing stricter laws), what we possibly could be doing here is have red light districts popping up because there are going to be some areas that have these restrictions and some that don’t,” he said.

The bill is House Bill 597.