Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Ohio · House Oct 21, 2025

HCR 26: Summons Hon. Ted N. Berry to show cause re: removal from office

Summoning the Honorable Ted N. Berry, Judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court, to appear before the General Assembly and show cause why he should not be removed from office under Article IV, Section 17 of the Ohio Constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill initiates a process for potential removal of a municipal court judge, a mechanism for judicial accountability within the criminal justice system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · Ohio · House Nov 5, 2025

HB 570: Allow income tax refund garnishment for certain court costs, fees

To amend section 5747.12 and to enact section 5747.124 of the Revised Code to allow garnishment of income tax refunds to pay certain delinquent court costs and fees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill allows garnishment of income tax refunds to collect delinquent court costs and fees, strengthening fiscal management by recovering owed funds.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill strengthens the financial enforcement capabilities of the courts, a key component of the criminal justice system, by allowing garnishment for delinquent costs and fees.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House May 21, 2025

HB 282: Add immigration status as a required factor for sentencing, bail

To amend sections 2929.12, 2929.15, 2929.22, 2929.25, and 2937.011 of the Revised Code to add a person's immigration status as a factor a court must consider when sentencing or ordering bail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill HB 282 adds immigration status as a required factor for sentencing and bail, which could lead to reduced defendant rights or expanded criminalization for certain individuals within the criminal justice system.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill HB 282 mandates courts consider immigration status for sentencing and bail, increasing state immigration enforcement and potentially limiting protections for immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 46: Enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act

To amend sections 109.57, 2923.125, 2923.128, 2923.1213, and 2923.13 and to enact sections 2923.26, 2923.27, 2923.28, 2923.29, 2923.30, and 2923.99 of the Revised Code to enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow certain persons to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms under specified circumstances.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 46 enacts a new legal mechanism (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) within the court system, directly impacting courts and law enforcement to prevent firearm-related harm, thus strengthening criminal justice tools for public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · Ohio · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 211: Require consideration of caretaker status in criminal cases

To amend sections 2929.19, 2951.03, and 2951.041 of the Revised Code to require a court to consider an offender's status as a primary caretaker of a child in determining whether the offender is amenable to a community control sanction or to intervention in lieu of conviction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill HB 211 requires courts to consider an offender's caretaker status for community control or intervention, promoting criminal justice reform by offering alternatives to incarceration.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBy allowing courts to consider caretaker status in sentencing, the bill helps prevent incarceration, which can mitigate housing instability and homelessness for families.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 208: Enact the Courtroom Employee Protection Act

To amend section 2903.13 of the Revised Code to enact the Courtroom Employee Protection Act to increase the penalty for assault when the victim is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens the criminal justice system by increasing penalties for assaulting courtroom employees, protecting personnel involved in courts and law enforcement.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill increases penalties for assault against court employees, directly improving workplace safety and protection for these workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Violent Crime

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 509: Exclude certain financial records in criminal record expungement

To amend section 2953.32 of the Revised Code to exclude certain financial records held by clerks of court from destruction upon ordered expungement of a criminal record.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill restricts criminal record expungement by excluding certain financial records from destruction, thereby limiting a mechanism typically seen as criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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passed · Ohio · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 478: Create jury tampering offense; revise court intimidation offenses

To amend section 2921.04 and to enact section 2921.06 of the Revised Code to create the offense of jury tampering and to include a public servant in the offense of intimidation of an attorney, victim, witness, or public servant in a criminal case.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill creates a new offense of jury tampering and expands existing court intimidation offenses, directly aligning with the 'expands criminalization' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 544: Expand the offense of obstructing justice

HB 544 amends Ohio Revised Code section 2921.32 to expand the legal definition of obstructing justice. This change broadens the types of conduct considered obstructive, potentially including additional actions that interfere with legal proceedings. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in conduct interfering with investigations or court processes by increasing the range of behaviors that could be classified as a criminal offense. The key mechanism is the amendment to the specific code section, which redefines the scope of what constitutes obstructing justice.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 544 expands the legal definition of obstructing justice, broadening the types of conduct considered criminal offenses, which aligns with expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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