HB 23 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Create the escaped convict alert program

The bill title "Create the escaped convict alert program" is incorrect based on the provided text. This bill (HB 23) actually establishes a framework for appointing security officers at financial institutions and other entities, not an escaped convict alert system. It allows banks, credit unions, railroads, and hospitals to designate personnel as police officers for their premises, subject to Ohio peace officer training requirements and certification. These appointed officers must be Ohio residents of good character, complete approved training within six months, and serve three-year terms. The bill specifically defines "prior parent company" for banks and includes provisions for railroad companies and hospitals meeting certain criteria.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

House Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Oct 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Signed Mar 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the Senate → As Enrolled · 7 edits · Dec 1, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add new provisions for police officers appointed by prior parent companies of banks, railroads, and amusement parks, while also expanding hospital police authority and clarifying liability protections. The changes also introduce an escaped convict alert program and update training requirements for certain police officers. These modifications broaden the scope of who can appoint police officers and clarify the legal protections for hospitals and amusement parks employing them.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes prior parent companies of banks (companies that previously owned banks but sold or dissolved their ownership) as eligible to appoint police officers, and adds new provisions for railroad and amusement park police officers with specific approval and training requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for prior parent companies of banks to apply for appointment and commission of banking police officers, including specific definitions of what constitutes a prior parent company.

REQUIREMENT

Added new provisions requiring railroad companies and amusement parks to obtain approval from local law enforcement and enter into written agreements before appointing police officers.

Modified hospital police provisions to require approval from local police chiefs or sheriffs and written agreements governing interaction with local law enforcement.

Modified training requirements for police officers appointed before April 14, 2006, allowing reappointment without certification if employed continuously since that date.

ENFORCEMENT

Added liability protections for hospitals and amusement parks when their appointed police officers perform duties within approved jurisdictions.

Created a new escaped convict alert program to aid in identifying and locating escaped felons from correctional facilities.

TECHNICAL

Changed document formatting from 'As Passed by the Senate' to 'As Enrolled' status with updated section numbering and removed page markers.

As Passed by the House → As Passed by the Senate · 8 edits · Oct 29, 2025

MODERATE

The Senate version significantly expanded the bill's scope beyond just creating an escaped convict alert program to include new provisions allowing prior parent companies of banks to appoint banking police officers, adding comprehensive police appointment authority for railroads, hospitals, and amusement parks, and repealing an existing section. These changes substantially broaden who can employ police officers and under what circumstances.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely creating an escaped convict alert program to establishing multiple new categories of entities that can appoint and commission police officers, including prior parent companies of banks, railroad companies, hospitals, and amusement parks with significant attendance.

SCOPE

New provision allowing prior parent companies of banks to apply for appointment and commission of banking police officers for facilities they previously controlled

New authority for railroad companies to appoint and commission police officers for railroad premises and affiliates

New provisions allowing hospitals to appoint police officers with specific requirements for approval from local law enforcement and written agreements

New authority for amusement parks with over 600,000 annual guests to appoint police officers with local law enforcement approval requirements

DEFINITION

Original escaped convict alert program provisions were reorganized and condensed, with the detailed program description moved to a new Section 5502.54

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed training and certification requirements for police officers appointed under the new categories, including provisions for out-of-state training equivalency

ENFORCEMENT

New immunity provisions protecting hospitals and amusement parks from civil or criminal liability for actions taken by appointed police officers

TECHNICAL

Original Section 4973.17 was repealed and replaced with expanded provisions covering multiple police appointment authorities

Floor votes · Senate Oct 29, 2025 · House Jun 18, 2025

How they voted

32–0

Passed

Total votes 32

Oct 29, 2025

D Democratic9

9 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican23

23 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Nov 21, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Sent To The Governor

legislature

Nov 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Concurred in Senate amendments

lower

Oct 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Jun 25, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Introduced

upper

Jun 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Introduced

lower

2 primary · 14 co-sponsors