Criminal Justice

signed · Ohio · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 273: Enact the Keep Them Safe Act

SB 273, titled "Enact the Keep Them Safe Act," creates new guidelines for the voluntary storage of firearms and provides civil immunity to individuals who store firearms for others under these guidelines. It directly affects gun owners, family members, or others who voluntarily store firearms for safekeeping, such as when leaving guns with relatives or neighbors. The key provision grants legal protection (civil immunity) to those who store firearms in compliance with the new rules, shielding them from lawsuits if the firearms are later used improperly. This bill changes the legal landscape by encouraging safe storage practices through immunity, rather than imposing new restrictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 273 establishes new guidelines for firearm storage and grants civil immunity, providing legal protections that clarify liabilities within the broader justice system.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed · Ohio · Senate Jun 16, 2026

SB 422: Prohibit certain offenders from school or child care premises

To amend sections 2950.13, 2950.99, 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact sections 2950.036, 2950.044, and 3313.475 of the Revised Code to prohibit tier II and tier III sex offender/child-victim offenders from knowingly being present on school premises or preschool or child care center premises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts high-risk sex offenders from schools, enhancing public safety and protecting vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits sex offenders from school premises, directly protecting students and enhancing school safety.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Ohio · Senate Jun 16, 2026

SB 421: Increase time period to bring civil action for sex offense victim

To amend section 2305.111 of the Revised Code to increase the period of limitations for a civil action for a victim of a sex offense to five years and to amend the version of section 2305.111 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on October 12, 2028, to continue the change on and after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends the statute of limitations for sex offense victims, enhancing their ability to seek civil justice and promoting accountability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 178: Form Missing Women-Black, Indigenous, People of Color task force

To enact section 2901.44 of the Revised Code to create the Task Force on Missing Women and Girls who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color and to make an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill explicitly states it will 'make an appropriation,' which involves government spending and fiscal management to fund a new task force.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates a task force to investigate missing BIPOC women/girls, aiming to improve law enforcement response and address systemic issues within the criminal justice system. This promotes criminal justice reform.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Ohio · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 3: Enact the School Bus Safety Act

To amend sections 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 and to enact sections 5.501, 3327.18, and 3327.19 of the Revised Code to address school bus safety, to designate this act as the School Bus Safety Act, and to make an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill explicitly states it will 'make an appropriation,' directly involving government spending and fiscal management, which falls under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill addresses school bus safety and lists 'Traffic Offenses' as a subject. It likely expands criminalization or increases penalties for related infractions, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationThe bill enhances school bus safety, a critical component of K-12 education infrastructure, protecting students and facilitating their safe access to schools.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationHB 3 aims to address school bus safety, directly enhancing transportation safety and vehicle regulations, which strengthens the transportation topic area.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

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signed · Ohio · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 137: Require hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs

To enact sections 3727.81, 3727.811, and 5119.192 of the Revised Code to require hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill addresses the opioid crisis by requiring overdose reversal drugs. This aligns with public health and harm reduction strategies that support criminal justice reform by reducing drug-related deaths and potential criminal justice involvement.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareThe bill requires hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs, directly improving patient access to critical health services and strengthening public health initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed · Ohio · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 397: Expand allowable uses of profits from jail commissary funds

HB 397 amends Ohio's Revised Code (Section 341.25) to allow county jails to use profits from inmate commissary sales for additional purposes beyond current restrictions. This directly affects county jails managing these funds, as it expands their flexibility in allocating commissary profits. The key change is removing specific limitations on fund usage, permitting counties to direct these profits toward other operational needs as permitted by law, without creating new spending requirements. The bill focuses solely on reallocating existing revenue streams, not increasing funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill promotes fiscal responsibility by expanding flexibility for county jails to allocate existing commissary profits to various operational needs, optimizing resource use.75% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 397 strengthens county jails' operational capabilities by expanding flexibility in using commissary funds, directly impacting the corrections aspect of criminal justice.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Ohio · Senate Jun 3, 2026

SB 318: Allow law enforcement to provide certain school resource services

To amend sections 505.431 and 3313.951 of the Revised Code to authorize a law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services to a chartered nonpublic school.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill authorizes law enforcement to provide school resource officer services, expanding their role and presence, thereby strengthening a component of criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationThe bill enhances school safety by authorizing SRO services for nonpublic schools, contributing to a more secure educational environment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Ohio · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 393: Regards sexually oriented offenses involving juveniles, animals

To amend sections 959.21, 959.99, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2929.14, and 2950.01 and to enact section 2941.1427 of the Revised Code to make changes to various sexually oriented offenses involving juvenile victims and to create the offenses of creating or possessing material depicting sexual conduct with an animal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new offenses for animal sexual abuse material and strengthens protections for juvenile victims, enhancing criminal justice enforcement and victim safety.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Ohio · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 225: Expand the Address Confidentiality Program

SB 225 expands Ohio's Address Confidentiality Program to protect victims of specific crimes by providing a confidential address that replaces their actual address on public records. It directly affects individuals fleeing domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, rape, sexual battery, or crimes involving deadly weapons, including minors, incompetents, or wards under guardianship. Key changes include adding "human trafficking" and "trafficking in persons" to qualifying crimes, requiring a notarized safety statement, and mandating certified application assistants to help applicants complete forms. The program will assign a confidential address managed by the Secretary of State, which forwards mail and receives legal process while keeping the participant's real address private.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 225 expands a program protecting victims of crimes like human trafficking and domestic violence, thereby strengthening a vital protective aspect within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingSB 225 protects victims' ability to safely maintain housing by providing confidential addresses, addressing a key barrier to stable housing for vulnerable individuals.80% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologySB 225 enhances data privacy by providing a confidential address for victims, replacing their actual address on public records.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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