Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

introduced · Ohio · House Jul 13, 2026

HB 975: Allow officer to petition for removal from a Brady-Giglio list

To amend section 149.43 and to enact section 2901.51 of the Revised Code to allow a law enforcement officer to petition the court to remove the officer's name from a prosecutor's Brady-Giglio list.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows officers to petition for removal from Brady-Giglio lists, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights by enabling correction of potentially erroneous exclusions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 868: Regards high school instruction on peace officer interactions

To amend sections 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact section 3313.6034 of the Revised Code regarding high school instruction on proper in-person interactions with peace officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates high school instruction on interactions with peace officers, enhancing public understanding and promoting police accountability.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates high school instruction on interactions with peace officers, enhancing student safety education and curriculum.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · Ohio · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 425: Establish the violent crime reduction grant program

SB 425 creates a new grant program within the Department of Public Safety to help police departments and county sheriff's offices reduce violent crime. The program provides funding for evidence-based strategies such as focused deterrence, crime gun intelligence centers, and forensic capacity improvements. To receive money, applicants must submit proposals that prioritize strategies supported by peer-reviewed research or federal guidance. The Division of Criminal Justice Services will manage the application process, evaluate projects based on their potential to improve clearance rates, and monitor how funds are used. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to publish annual reports detailing awarded grants and their outcomes for public review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new grant program to fund violent crime reduction strategies, directly increasing state spending on public safety.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes a grant program to fund evidence-based strategies for reducing violent crime, directly strengthening law enforcement capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Violent Crime Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Ohio · House May 13, 2026

HB 830: Establish the violent crime reduction grant program

HB 830 creates a new grant program within the Department of Public Safety to help police departments and county sheriff's offices reduce violent crime. The program provides funding for evidence-based strategies such as focused deterrence, hot spot policing, and improved forensic capabilities like DNA and ballistics analysis. Eligible agencies must submit applications to the Division of Criminal Justice Services, which will evaluate and award grants based on the effectiveness of the proposed strategies. Funds can be used for investigative staffing, technology purchases, training, and expanding specific gang intervention models, with strict rules requiring agencies to report on outcomes and ensuring grants do not replace existing local budgets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a new grant program providing funding for violent crime reduction strategies within the Department of Public Safety.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes a grant program to fund evidence-based strategies for reducing violent crime, directly strengthening law enforcement capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · Ohio · House May 13, 2026

HR 407: Encourage Ohio law enforcement inclusion in fed. investigations

To encourage federal law enforcement to permit state and local law enforcement to be a part of the investigations into any offense that occurs in Ohio.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes cooperation between federal and local law enforcement, enhancing investigative capabilities and potentially improving public safety outcomes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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passed · Ohio · House Jun 11, 2026

HB 852: Require appointed police chief to complete officer basic training

To amend sections 109.77 and 737.15 and to enact sections 505.496 and 737.053 of the Revised Code to require an individual appointed as a chief of police to complete a peace officer basic training program.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates police chief training, enhancing accountability and professional standards in law enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 927: Expand the offenses of importuning and obstructing justice

This bill expands the legal definition of importuning and obstructing justice to address specific scenarios involving the solicitation of sexual activity. It directly affects individuals who attempt to engage in sexual conduct with minors, particularly by lowering the age threshold for certain offenses and adding protections against solicitation via telecommunications devices. Key provisions make it a crime to solicit anyone under sixteen, regardless of the offender's knowledge of the victim's age, and specifically criminalize attempts to meet with minors through phone or internet communications. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for repeat offenders and those with prior convictions, while also clarifying rules regarding law enforcement officers who may be posing as minors. The legislation also strengthens laws against obstructing justice by explicitly including actions that prevent someone from reporting a crime or assisting in its investigation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands criminal definitions to protect minors from sexual solicitation, strengthening law enforcement tools and public safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Ohio · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 432: Modify the offense of abuse of a corpse

SB 432 updates the legal penalties for mistreating human remains by distinguishing between two levels of offenses. The bill defines a lesser crime for actions that outrage reasonable family sensibilities, such as general abuse or moving a body, while establishing a more serious felony for acts that outrage community sensibilities, including sexual activity, dismemberment, or mutilation. It also clarifies that "abuse" includes any treatment not recognized by generally accepted community or professional standards. These changes directly affect individuals who handle corpses and law enforcement officials who prosecute such cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies and strengthens penalties for abuse of human remains, enhancing the legal framework for handling such crimes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Ohio · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 788: Regards paid military leave for law enforcement officers

This bill updates Ohio's paid military leave policy for law enforcement officers and other public safety employees, ensuring they receive paid time off when serving in the uniformed services. It clarifies that permanent public employees, including firefighters and law enforcement officers, are entitled to up to one month of paid leave per federal fiscal year for military service, with specific definitions for what constitutes a month and what counts as uniformed service. For service extending beyond one month, the bill establishes payment rules for state agency and political subdivision employees, requiring them to receive the difference between their regular salary and military pay, capped at $500 for political subdivisions. The legislation also outlines documentation requirements, collective bargaining protections, and repeals previous conflicting provisions to streamline the leave process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens support for law enforcement officers by ensuring paid military leave, enhancing their ability to serve in uniformed services while maintaining employment benefits.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands paid military leave benefits for law enforcement and public safety employees, strengthening worker protections and employment benefits.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill extends paid military leave benefits to law enforcement and public safety employees, recognizing their service in uniformed services and supporting veteran-related employment benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 691: Enact the Community and Police Protection Act

HB 691, the Community and Police Protection Act, requires law enforcement officers (including federal officers) to remove masks during public interactions while performing duties, except for medical masks (like N95s), safety masks (for smoke/environmental hazards), or SWAT team gear. It mandates officers to display their name and badge number visibly at all times during public contact. Violating these rules is a misdemeanor, with exemptions for undercover operations. The bill directly affects all state and federal officers interacting with the public, aiming to increase transparency in police-citizen encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates officer identification and mask removal during public interactions, enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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