Criminal Justice

passed · Ohio · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 203: Enact Aspen Runnels' Law

To amend sections 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.081, 4511.01, 4511.132, 4511.20, 4511.202, 4511.204, 4511.205, 4511.21, 4511.25, 4511.251, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.46, 4511.54, 4511.60, 4511.711, 4511.712, and 5501.27 and to enact section 4510.039 of the Revised Code to increase penalties for vehicular assault and vehicular homicide that occur in an active school zone, to require doubled fines for specified traffic violations in an active school zone, and to name this act Aspen Runnels' Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 203 increases penalties for vehicular assault and homicide, strengthening punitive measures within the criminal justice system rather than promoting reform.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationHB 203 increases penalties for vehicular assault and homicide, which directly enhances transportation safety by deterring dangerous driving behaviors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Ohio · House May 28, 2025

HB 305: Enact Logan's Law

To amend sections 2925.03, 2929.14, and 3705.08 and to enact section 2941.1427 of the Revised Code to establish penalties for trafficking in pressed pill fentanyl, to require a death certificate to indicate if a death is caused by fentanyl poisoning, and to name this act Logan's Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill establishes new penalties for fentanyl trafficking, which expands criminalization and strengthens punitive measures within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareThe bill addresses fentanyl trafficking and requires death certificates to indicate fentanyl poisoning, indirectly supporting public health programs related to substance abuse.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 97: Double fines for failing to yield to a funeral procession

SB 97 increases penalties for drivers who fail to yield to funeral processions in Ohio. It requires funeral processions to have vehicles with headlights on and visible purple/white or orange/white pennants, and mandates that all drivers must yield to these processions. The bill doubles the standard fine for violations, with penalties escalating to a misdemeanor for repeat offenses within one year. This change specifically affects drivers who do not yield, not the processions themselves, and only modifies existing traffic fines without altering procession rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill doubles fines for violations, increasing potential revenue for state/local governments, thereby impacting fiscal management and government revenue.75% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill increases penalties (doubled fines, misdemeanor for repeat offenses) for specific traffic violations, aligning with expanding criminalization and increasing sentences.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationSB 97 enhances transportation safety by implementing vehicle regulations and increasing penalties for drivers who fail to yield to funeral processions on roads.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Oct 1, 2025

SB 265: Add animal offenses to foster, adoption record check disqualifier

To amend section 109.572 of the Revised Code to add certain animal-related offenses to the list of potentially disqualifying offenses when conducting a criminal records check for prospective foster caregivers, prospective adoptive parents, and certain other individuals who will be responsible for or reside in the same household as children.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands the list of criminal offenses that lead to disqualification for foster/adoption, thereby broadening the restrictive impact of criminal records.88% confidence

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 26: Enact Protecting Ohio Communities Act

To amend sections 9.63, 4501.06, 5747.50, 5747.502, 5747.51, and 5747.53 and to enact sections 9.631, 9.632, 9.633, and 5747.504 of the Revised Code to require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws, to prescribe funding reductions for noncompliance, to name this act the Protecting Ohio Communities Act, and to declare an emergency.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesThe bill prescribes funding reductions for state and local authorities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement, directly impacting government spending and fiscal management.85% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates state/local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, expanding their duties and the scope of criminal justice involvement, aligning with 'expands criminalization'.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prescribes funding reductions for state and local authorities that do not cooperate with immigration laws, which could impact entities providing Health and Human Services.65% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationThe bill mandates state and local authorities cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and imposes funding reductions for noncompliance, which restricts and increases enforcement related to immigration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · Ohio · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 528: Require 7 year mandatory minimum prison term for forcible rape

This bill requires a seven-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for anyone convicted of forcible rape under Ohio law. It changes sentencing rules by removing judicial discretion for this offense, mandating the minimum term regardless of individual case factors. Previously, judges could impose sentences below seven years, but this bill sets a fixed minimum under Ohio's criminal code (section 2907.02). The bill directly affects individuals convicted of forcible rape in Ohio courts, altering their potential sentencing outcomes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill increases mandatory minimum prison terms and removes judicial discretion in sentencing, directly aligning with indicators for opposing criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 1, 2025

HB 457: Regards penalties for politically motivated criminal offenses

To amend sections 2903.01, 2929.01, 2929.12, 2929.14, and 2929.22 and to enact section 2941.1428 of the Revised Code to create new aggravated murder offenses for political motivation and political victims, to create a mandatory prison term for politically motivated offenses of violence, and to add political motivation to sentencing factors for felonies and misdemeanors.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new aggravated murder offenses and mandatory prison terms for politically motivated crimes, which increases penalties and expands criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Sentencing

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passed · Ohio · House May 28, 2025

HB 5: Enact the Repeat Offender Act

To amend sections 109.57, 109.572, 109.578, 109.579, 2151.357, 2901.08, 2923.125, 2923.13, 2923.14, 2929.01, 2929.13, 2929.14, 2941.141, 2941.144, 2941.145, 2941.146, 2953.25, 2953.26, 2953.32, 2953.34, 2953.61, 4723.28, 4729.16, 4729.56, 4729.57, 4729.96, and 4752.09 and to enact sections 2941.1427, 2941.1428, and 2953.321 of the Revised Code to enact the Repeat Offender Act to create a repeat offender classification, to create and modify certain firearm specifications, to increase the penalties for certain firearm offenses and specifications, to broaden the scope of relief from firearms disability, and to modify the sealing procedure for misdemeanors and fourth and fifth degree felonies.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill creates a repeat offender classification and increases penalties, indicating a focus on stricter punitive measures within criminal justice rather than reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 79: Increase penalty for assault if the victim is a sports official

To amend sections 2903.13 and 2929.13 of the Revised Code to increase the penalties for assault if the victim is acting as a sports official or the assault is committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill increases penalties for assault in specific circumstances, which aligns with expanding punitive measures rather than promoting criminal justice reform or rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBy increasing penalties for assaulting sports officials, the bill indirectly supports and protects school-sponsored athletic programs, which are integral to primary and secondary education.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill increases penalties for assault against sports officials, protecting their safety while working or in retaliation for their work, which improves workplace safety for a specific group of workers.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 509: Exclude certain financial records in criminal record expungement

To amend section 2953.32 of the Revised Code to exclude certain financial records held by clerks of court from destruction upon ordered expungement of a criminal record.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill restricts criminal record expungement by excluding certain financial records from destruction, thereby limiting a mechanism typically seen as criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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