Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · Ohio · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 656: Create the offense of negligent assault of a peace officer

HB 656 would create a new criminal offense for negligently assaulting a peace officer in Ohio. It directly affects individuals who unintentionally cause harm to officers through careless actions, such as accidentally hitting an officer while driving recklessly. The bill amends existing Ohio law (sections 2903.14 and 2927.15) to add this specific offense, distinguishing it from intentional assault. This change would establish a clear legal category for careless harm to officers, separate from other assault charges.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for negligent harm to officers, expanding criminalization per bill's explicit language and subject focus on Crimes/Law Enforcement.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Ohio · House Sep 15, 2025

HB 370: Enact the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act

HB 370, the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, would ban abortion in Ohio by defining "person" to include preborn children from conception, making abortion a criminal offense under homicide laws. It directly affects pregnant people seeking abortions, healthcare providers offering abortion services, and individuals who may pressure someone to terminate a pregnancy. Key provisions require that abortion-related acts be treated as homicide or assault under existing laws, with exceptions only for life-saving procedures on the pregnant person (when reasonable steps to save the fetus are taken) or spontaneous miscarriages. The bill repeals current legal provisions that permit abortion or "prenatal homicide" and mandates due process protections for those subject to the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 370 expands criminalization by defining abortion as a criminal offense under homicide laws, directly impacting law enforcement, courts, and corrections.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareHB 370 bans abortion, making it a criminal offense. This directly restricts access to a specific health service and impacts healthcare providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Violent Crime Women's Health

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in committee · Ohio · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 336: Enact the Sam Knisley Family Support Act

To amend section 2929.18 and to enact section 2125.05 of the Revised Code to require a felony offender of an OVI-caused aggravated vehicular homicide to pay child maintenance when the victim is a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a minor child, to allow child maintenance to be awarded in a wrongful death action when the offender is deceased, and to name this act the Sam Knisley Family Support Act.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill amends sentencing law (2929.18) to add a mandatory child maintenance payment for felony OVI-caused aggravated vehicular homicide offenders, expanding punitive measures.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationHB 336 addresses OVI-caused aggravated vehicular homicide, a severe traffic offense. By requiring child maintenance, it creates a stronger deterrent for dangerous driving, thereby enhancing transportation safety.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 124: Increase assault penalty if victim is a transit system operator

To amend sections 2903.13 and 2917.41 and to enact section 306.20 of the Revised Code to increase the penalty for assault when the victim is an operator of an Ohio transit system bus or rail car; to authorize Ohio transit systems to post a sign regarding abuse or assault of staff; and to increase the penalty for evading payment of the known fares of a public transportation system.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill explicitly increases penalties for assault against transit operators and for fare evasion, which aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' and 'expands criminalization' indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases penalties for assaulting transit operators and authorizes safety signage, directly improving workplace safety for these workers.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationThe bill increases penalties for assaulting transit operators and fare evasion, directly enhancing public transit safety and operational integrity within the transportation sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Public Transit Rail

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passed · Ohio · House Nov 5, 2025

HB 132: Enact Philip Wigal's Law

To amend sections 2903.06, 2903.08, 4508.02, and 4511.213 and to enact section 5501.28 of the Revised Code to increase penalties for failing to slow down or change lanes when approaching specified stationary vehicles, to increase penalties for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault resulting from that offense, and to name this act Philip Wigal's Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill directly increases penalties for vehicular homicide and assault, and for failing to slow down/change lanes, which expands criminalization and strengthens punitive aspects of criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationHB 132 increases penalties for traffic offenses to enhance transportation safety, directly impacting vehicle regulations and safety within the transportation system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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signed · Ohio · House Jul 7, 2026

HB 533: Revise list of vehicles that can commit vehicular homicide

To amend sections 2903.06 and 2903.08 of the Revised Code to add to the list of vehicles that can be used to commit a vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill expands the definition of vehicles that can commit vehicular homicide/assault, thereby broadening criminalization within the justice system.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens legal consequences for vehicular homicide/assault, which enhances transportation safety and vehicle regulation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

passed · Ohio · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 203: Enact Aspen Runnels' Law

To amend sections 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.081, 4511.01, 4511.132, 4511.20, 4511.202, 4511.204, 4511.205, 4511.21, 4511.25, 4511.251, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.46, 4511.54, 4511.60, 4511.711, 4511.712, and 5501.27 and to enact section 4510.039 of the Revised Code to increase penalties for vehicular assault and vehicular homicide that occur in an active school zone, to require doubled fines for specified traffic violations in an active school zone, and to name this act Aspen Runnels' Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 203 increases penalties for vehicular assault and homicide, strengthening punitive measures within the criminal justice system rather than promoting reform.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationHB 203 increases penalties for vehicular assault and homicide, which directly enhances transportation safety by deterring dangerous driving behaviors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 79: Increase penalty for assault if the victim is a sports official

To amend sections 2903.13 and 2929.13 of the Revised Code to increase the penalties for assault if the victim is acting as a sports official or the assault is committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeThe bill increases penalties for assault in specific circumstances, which aligns with expanding punitive measures rather than promoting criminal justice reform or rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBy increasing penalties for assaulting sports officials, the bill indirectly supports and protects school-sponsored athletic programs, which are integral to primary and secondary education.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill increases penalties for assault against sports officials, protecting their safety while working or in retaliation for their work, which improves workplace safety for a specific group of workers.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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