HB 252 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Modify offenses of burglary, breaking and entering, and trespass

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 30, 2025 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 5 edits · Mar 25, 2026
MODERATE
This bill significantly expands the scope of Ohio's criminal code by adding new definitions for terms like 'force' and 'deadly force' and reclassifying several offenses. It amends burglary and trespass laws to create stricter penalties for crimes committed when a person is present or likely to be present, while also repealing the old breaking and entering statute. The bill also introduces a new felony for violent career criminals using firearms and includes specific provisions regarding the definition of 'person' in relation to abortion and fetal viability.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by adding new offenses and broadening the definition of 'person' to include unborn humans in specific contexts, while simultaneously removing the separate offense of 'breaking and entering'.
DEFINITION

Added new statutory definitions for 'force', 'deadly force', 'physical harm', 'serious physical harm', 'risk', 'substantial risk', 'offense of violence', 'property', 'law enforcement officer', 'privilege', 'contraband', and 'school safety zone'.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the definition of 'person' to explicitly include an unborn human who is viable, with specific carve-outs regarding abortion laws.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new felony offense for 'unlawful use of a weapon by a violent career criminal,' defining a violent career criminal as someone convicted of two or more violent felonies within eight years.

Modified burglary and trespass offenses to distinguish between acts committed by force and acts committed knowingly, altering the structure of penalties and allied offense rules.

SCOPE

Removed the separate offense of 'breaking and entering' (Sec. 2911.13) and repealed the section defining it as a felony of the fifth degree.

Floor votes · House Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

7024
Passed
Total votes 94
Mar 26, 2026
D Democratic31
7 Yea 24 Nay
77% Nay
R Republican63
63 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Mar 26, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (70-24)
house
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
2 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors