SB 343 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Regards workers' compensation coverage-urban search and rescue

Summary
To amend sections 5502.29 and 5502.41 and to enact section 5502.301 of the Revised Code regarding workers' compensation coverage for a member of an urban search and rescue unit rendering assistance in Ohio at the request of the state's Emergency Management Agency Executive Director.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action May 27, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the Senate · 5 edits · May 20, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was amended to add a new section (5502.301) that provides workers' compensation coverage for members of designated urban search and rescue teams who are injured while assisting in Ohio at the request of the state Emergency Management Agency. It also reorganized the existing mutual aid sections to clarify definitions, expand the scope of assistance agreements to include adjacent states, and detail reimbursement rules for resources used during mutual aid responses.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded by adding specific coverage for urban search and rescue team members, whereas the original version focused primarily on general mutual aid agreements between political subdivisions.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a new section granting workers' compensation benefits to urban search and rescue team members injured while rendering assistance in Ohio at the request of the state Emergency Management Agency.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and clarified definitions in Section 5502.41 to explicitly include health districts and define terms like 'planned event' and 'regional response team'.

REQUIREMENT

Added new provisions allowing political subdivisions to enter into mutual assistance agreements with political subdivisions in adjacent states, subject to approval by chief elected officials.

FISCAL

Established specific reimbursement rules for mutual aid, including a waiver of reimbursement for the first eight hours of assistance and expenses related to worker injuries.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill header to reflect its status as 'As Passed by the Senate' and added a list of cosponsors.

Floor votes · Senate May 20, 2026

How they voted

300
Passed
Total votes 30
May 20, 2026
D Democratic8
8 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican22
22 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Amendments
1
May 27, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
May 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 13, 2026
Introduced
Reported - Amended
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Nathan Manning
Nathan Manning
RRepublican
OH
13