Would you like to know if someone planned to open a sex shop in town?

A bill at the Statehouse will exempt your right to know who has applied to do business in your town.

House bill 4431 would change the Freedom of Information Act to make it illegal to release to the public a business license application and tax return.

This would hide business license applications and tax returns as specified in Chapter 4, Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act.

A business license application and tax return, as well as the right of inspection, may not be shared, transferred, assigned or contracted to any other entity, agency, department, or other organization, the bill says.

“You have a right to know if a cat house, porn shop or other undesirables want to do business in your community, affect the public welfare and corrupt your children,” said Bill Rogers of the SC Press Association.