SB 277 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Clarify that child independent activity is not abuse or neglect

Summary

To enact section 2151.032 of the Revised Code to clarify that a child who is granted permission to engage in independent activities is not considered to be an abused or neglected child.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Sep 30, 2025 Last action May 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Passed by the Senate · 1 edit · May 13, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was reformatted to align with the Senate's official style, but the substantive legal language remained identical. The core policy change, which clarifies that children engaging in age-appropriate independent activities are not considered abused or neglected, was preserved without modification.

Scope change

No change in scope or applicability; the bill's effect remains the same.

TECHNICAL

Formatting and layout were adjusted to match the Senate's preferred version, including the addition of cosponsor names and the reorganization of section headers and line breaks.

Floor votes · Senate May 13, 2026

How they voted

31–0

Passed

Total votes 31

May 13, 2026

D Democratic8

8 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican23

23 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2026

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

May 19, 2026

Introduced

lower

May 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Oct 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Sep 30, 2025

Introduced

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors