HB 565 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Enact the Grand Jury Privacy and Protection Act

Summary

To amend section 149.43 of the Revised Code to exempt from disclosure under Public Records Law, the name and address of a grand juror and the signature of a grand-jury foreperson, and to name this act the Grand Jury Privacy and Protection Act.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 4, 2025 Last action Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Passed by the House · 6 edits · May 20, 2026

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands the list of records exempt from public disclosure under Ohio's Public Records Law, adding dozens of new categories such as specific types of camera footage, donor profiles, and recreational activity data for minors. It also introduces stricter rules for handling video records, including a cap on fees for law enforcement agencies and special protections for victims. Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions for various public service workers and establishes new procedures for journalists to access certain sensitive information.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of privacy protections by adding numerous new categories of confidential records and explicitly defining terms like 'designated public service worker' and 'trial preparation record' to ensure consistent application of exemptions.

SCOPE

Added extensive new exemptions for records including body-worn camera footage, dashboard camera recordings, donor profile records, and recreational activity data for minors.

Added exemptions for records related to child fatality reviews, pregnancy-associated mortality reviews, and domestic violence fatality reviews.

DEFINITION

Introduced detailed definitions for terms such as 'designated public service worker,' 'trial preparation record,' 'attorney work product record,' and 'restricted portions of camera recordings.'

REQUIREMENT

Established a $75 per hour cap on fees that law enforcement can charge for preparing and redacting video records, with a total cap of $750.

Created a specific exception allowing journalists to request and receive the home addresses and work schedules of designated public service workers.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that requests for public records related to criminal actions by defendants are treated as discovery demands under criminal rules.

Floor votes · House May 20, 2026

How they voted

95–0

Passed

Total votes 95

May 20, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican64

64 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

May 21, 2026

Introduced

upper

May 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Nov 5, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Introduced

lower

2 primary · 8 co-sponsors