HB 528 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

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.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 15, 2025 Last action Jun 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Passed by the House · 7 edits · Jun 3, 2026

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition of sexual conduct to include anilingus and updates the primary statute to cover both sexual conduct and sexual contact. It also adds a new provision preventing the use of marital or cohabitation status as a defense in cases involving forced submission.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from amending only one section to amending two sections (2907.01 and 2907.02) to include new definitions and evidence rules.

DEFINITION

Added 'anilingus' to the legal definition of sexual conduct.

Added a new definition for 'sexual contact' to clarify what constitutes touching for sexual arousal.

Added numerous new definitions for terms like 'prostitute', 'obscene', 'juvenile', 'nudity', and 'sexual excitement' to clarify legal standards.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that marital or cohabiting status cannot be used as a defense when a victim is compelled to submit by force or threat.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new rules regarding the admissibility of evidence concerning the sexual history of victims and defendants in rape cases.

Added a provision allowing courts to appoint free legal counsel for victims during hearings about evidence admissibility.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and text to reflect that it amends two sections rather than one, and added a section explaining the bill is a composite of previous legislation.

Floor votes · House Jun 3, 2026

How they voted

88–0

Passed

Total votes 88

Jun 3, 2026

D Democratic29

29 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican59

59 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Jun 4, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jun 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jun 3, 2026

Introduced

Reported - Amended

lower

Oct 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Oct 15, 2025

Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors