Nursing moms would be liberated to unabashedly breast-feed their babes in stores, restaurants, movie theaters and parks by a proposed bill to be chewed over tomorrow on Beacon Hill.

If state Rep. Paul Frost's "Act Permitting Breast-Feeding in Public" is adopted, no one could say boo about women baring baby's buffet.

Last year, Hingham cardiologist Dr. Melissa Tracy was publicly reprimanded by the manager of a South Weymouth iParty store because she stopped to breast-feed her son while shopping.

Jana Quinn of Arlington, who has breast-fed two daughters now ages 6 months and 2 years, said it's "shocking" Massachusetts is still keeping Mother Nature closeted.

"We're not doing it to show off our goods," Quinn said. "If I had my druthers, I'd time my day so I wouldn't have to sit and nurse in a mall, but life happens."

Though not on the state's books as lewd behavior, the legislation proposed by Frost (R-Auburn), would exempt breast-feeding from the same "crimes against chastity, morality, decency and good order" that frown upon adultery, incest and cutting off a funeral procession in traffic.

Since 1993, 39 states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont, have legalized public breast-feeding. Rhode Island has not made the leap, but does exempt breast-feeding from its public indecency laws.

Massachusetts has virtually no laws either addressing or accommodating breast feeding, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Marsha Walker, a registered nurse from Weston serving on the board of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, said legislators, including Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln), have been trying to pass breast-feeding laws for years, but the bills are always quashed.

Legislators "think, 'Oh, what if a woman breast-feeds in church?' ," Walker said. "They're squeamish. The fact is, you don't see anything. Nobody whips them out. You can't imprison mothers in their own home. People need to grow up."

Cathy Mazzocca, 38, a medical professional who breast-fed her son Nicholas and is expecting a second child in July, said, "Breast-feeding is a bonding experience when you first have your baby. I myself feel more comfortable being discreet."

Father of two Michael Disandro, 38, of Milton, supports his wife Susan's right to breast-feed.

"The benefits have been documented: It helps babies develop," Disandro said. "I have a problem with legislating morality. Look the other way if it's an issue for you."

Janna Frelich of the La Leche League of Boston said, "It's sad (women) are getting harassed. Some people just think breast-feeding by its nature is weird. They're just used to seeing breasts as sex objects. My feeling is as long as you're holding your baby, that's a good thing."