SB 4 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Create Election Integrity Unit; revise election law prosecution

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Sep 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Sep 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the Senate · 6 edits · Jun 18, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was significantly amended to remove references to section 109.95, which previously granted the attorney general broad authority to prosecute election fraud directly. The Senate version also added extensive new duties for the secretary of state, including establishing an Election Integrity Unit and numerous administrative responsibilities related to voter registration, ballot access, and election oversight. These changes shift more responsibility to the secretary of state while limiting the attorney general's direct prosecutorial role in election law violations.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing section 109.95, which previously allowed the attorney general to initiate criminal proceedings for election fraud. The scope was expanded by adding numerous new duties for the secretary of state, including the creation of an Election Integrity Unit and enhanced administrative oversight responsibilities.
ENFORCEMENT

Removed section 109.95, which previously gave the attorney general authority to initiate criminal proceedings for election fraud and prosecute violations if county prosecutors did not act within 12 months.

Added new section 3501.055 establishing an Election Integrity Unit within the secretary of state's office to investigate election fraud and voter suppression allegations.

Modified prosecution timeline requirements, establishing a one-year deadline for prosecuting attorneys to act on referrals from the Election Integrity Unit, with escalation to the attorney general if not prosecuted.

REQUIREMENT

Added 26 new duties (A through EE) for the secretary of state, including voter registration programs, ballot preparation, election oversight, and accessibility coordination for persons with disabilities.

Added requirement for the secretary of state to publish reports on absent and provisional ballots on a website within one month after each primary and general election.

DEFINITION

Added detailed procedures for the Election Integrity Unit to receive public complaints, investigate allegations, and submit annual reports to the governor and general assembly.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 18, 2025

How they voted

248
Passed
Total votes 32
Jun 18, 2025
D Democratic8
8 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican24
24 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
Sep 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Jun 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
Jun 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Jun 18, 2025
Introduced
Reported - Amended
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Theresa Gavarone
Theresa Gavarone
RRepublican
OH
2