Rep. Jack Daniels

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Organized Retail Theft Advisory Council and a dedicated investigative task force to address organized retail theft and cargo theft across the state. It creates a new crime specifically for the theft of mail and expands existing theft penalties to include the unlawful taking of commercial freight moving through various modes of transport, such as trucks, railroads, and aircraft. The legislation sets up a funding mechanism to reimburse local law enforcement for their participation in these task forces and requires that task force staff include representatives from local sheriffs, municipal police, and prosecutors.

Maddy summaryHB 37 amends Ohio law to increase penalties for operating a vehicle or watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill specifically raises the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers under twenty-one years old and establishes specific thresholds for various controlled substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, that constitute impairment. These changes directly affect individuals who operate vehicles or watercraft while impaired, subjecting them to stricter legal consequences if they exceed the new limits. By defining precise chemical concentrations for different substances, the legislation aims to clarify what constitutes a violation for law enforcement and the courts.

Maddy summaryHB 206 amends Ohio law to clarify and expand the procedures for suspending and expelling public school students who bring dangerous items to campus. The bill requires school officials to provide written notice and an informal hearing before issuing an out-of-school suspension, while also mandating that students complete missed assignments without receiving failing grades solely due to the suspension. It establishes specific expulsion terms, such as a one-year ban for bringing a firearm to school or an interscholastic event, and allows school boards to adopt resolutions permitting expulsions for bringing certain knives. Additionally, the legislation outlines how remaining suspension or expulsion time should be handled if the school year ends before the full period is served, offering community service as an alternative to carrying over the penalty.

Maddy summaryHB 331 modifies how legal notices, such as those related to village dissolution, must be published by requiring them to be posted on an official public notice website in addition to appearing in newspapers. The bill mandates that the publisher of the newspaper hosting the official public notice site cannot charge state agencies or political subdivisions for this online posting. Furthermore, the legislation allows for abbreviated versions of these notices to be posted online after the initial full publication in a newspaper, provided the summary clearly describes the notice's purpose and includes contact information.

Maddy summaryHB 531, known as Braden's Law, establishes new criminal penalties for sexual extortion, which involves threatening to release private images to force someone into performing acts, paying money, or providing additional photos. The bill specifically defines private images to include content involving nudity, sexual activity, or extreme violence, and it sets felony charges that become more severe if the victim is a minor, elderly person, or disabled adult. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the legal responsibilities of digital service providers regarding deceased users' accounts, requiring them to comply with court orders for disclosure or termination while protecting them from liability when acting in good faith.

Maddy summaryHB 403 creates new legal causes of action for vehicles that are towed following an accident, allowing owners to seek compensation in such cases. The bill also clarifies rules regarding tampered emission control systems by defining specific prohibited actions, such as selling or operating vehicles with bypassed emissions equipment, while providing exceptions for legitimate repairs and vehicle conversions. Additionally, it expands an existing exception to window tinting laws to include residents who own non-compliant vehicles and requires transportation network companies to perform annual background checks on their authorized drivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the month of May as "Food Allergy Awareness Month" to highlight the importance of recognizing food allergies. The primary effect is an official state designation that encourages public awareness and education during this specific time period. It does not change laws, allocate funding, or mandate specific actions for individuals or businesses. The measure serves as a commemorative resolution rather than a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local governments from allowing residents to directly vote on how municipal funds are spent, ensuring that only the legislative body can approve such expenditures. It declares any existing charter provisions or ordinances that permit direct resident disbursement of funds to be legally void and unenforceable. While the law forbids residents from making the final spending decisions, it still allows local governments to ask for public input on budget matters. The legislation is declared an emergency measure to prevent the circumvention of current appropriation laws and to maintain responsible stewardship of public treasury resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals filing asbestos-related lawsuits to submit a detailed sworn statement within thirty days of filing their complaint. The disclosure must include specific personal and exposure information, such as the plaintiff's work history, the names of asbestos-containing products used, the exact locations of exposure, and the specific disease being alleged. Plaintiffs must also continuously update this information if they learn of new exposure details or errors in their initial submission. Additionally, the bill prevents defendants from being sued until their products or premises are specifically identified in these disclosures and allows courts to dismiss claims against defendants who are not properly identified. This process aims to streamline asbestos litigation by ensuring plaintiffs provide concrete evidence early in the legal process, while excluding workers' compensation and veterans' benefit claims from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Data Analytics and Archives within the Secretary of State's office to manage voter registration and election data. It requires state agencies like the Department of Health and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to share specific data with the Secretary of State monthly to help maintain an accurate statewide voter registration database. The legislation also mandates that the office retain, analyze, and publish certain business services data while strictly prohibiting the sale of any information or its use for profit. Additionally, the bill outlines rules for sharing confidential data with other states and authorized organizations for legitimate governmental purposes related to election administration.