Technology

To enact sections 4927.23, 4927.24, 4927.25, 4927.26, 4927.27, 4927.28, 4939.11, 4939.12, 4939.13, 4939.14, 4939.15, 4939.16, 4939.17, 5547.031, 5547.041, and 5589.101 of the Revised Code regarding broadband internet access service infrastructure located in a public right-of-way.

To amend section 9.66 and to enact sections 3744.01, 3744.02, 3744.03, 3744.04, 3744.041, 3744.042, 3744.05, 3744.06, 3744.061, 3744.062, 3744.07, 3744.08, 3744.09, 3744.10, 3744.11, and 3744.12 of the Revised Code to impose various requirements concerning data centers, to name this act the Data Center Accountability and Citizen Protection Act, and to declare an emergency.

To amend sections 107.036 and 5747.98 and to enact sections 122.863 and 5747.88 of the Revised Code to authorize an income tax credit for businesses that make qualifying technology investments.

HB 957 prevents the state from offering new sales tax exemptions for computer data centers, meaning future projects will not receive special breaks on taxes for purchasing or installing equipment. The bill defines specific criteria for what qualifies as a data center, including requirements for significant capital investment and job creation, but it stops the tax credit authority from granting these benefits to any new applicants. While the law allows existing agreements to remain in effect, it ensures that no future data center projects can secure tax-free status for their equipment purchases. This change directly affects technology companies and developers planning to build or expand data centers in the state after the bill takes effect.

This bill establishes rules for how employers and recruitment agencies can use automated software to make hiring and firing decisions. It requires that these tools, which use artificial intelligence or data analytics, never be the only factor used to decide a worker's employment status. Instead, a human must review the tool's output to ensure accuracy, and the organization must inform applicants at least ten days in advance about how the tool works and what data it uses. Additionally, the law grants workers the right to request an alternative evaluation method that does not involve the automated system if they choose.

SB 431 establishes the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act to regulate online platforms that connect renters with property owners in the state. The bill requires these platforms, along with their affiliates, to secure reimbursement insurance policies that cover their financial obligations to users if they fail to honor their guarantee contracts. This insurance ensures that if a platform defaults on a promise to reimburse a renter for damages, an authorized insurance company will step in to pay the owed amount. The legislation also mandates that these guarantees clearly state they are not insurance contracts and outlines specific rules for how the insurance policies can be terminated. Ultimately, the law aims to protect consumers by ensuring there is a reliable financial backstop for rental disputes handled through digital marketplaces.

This bill is a Senate resolution that formally congratulates the Ridgewood High School AI for Youth team for winning the 2026 Ohio Presidential AI Challenge. The measure recognizes the students' project, "Reading Reimagined," which uses artificial intelligence to help students improve their literacy skills. It expresses praise for the team's hard work and encourages them to continue striving for excellence in their future endeavors. Additionally, the resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the document to the students and their instructors.

To enact sections 1349.08, 1349.081, 1349.082, 1349.083, 1349.084, 1349.085, 5119.65, 5119.651, 5119.652, and 5119.653 of the Revised Code to require warning labels on addictive social media platforms.

To enact sections 1349.12, 1349.13, 1349.14, 1349.15, and 1349.16 of the Revised Code to require AI-generated products have a watermark and to require disclosure when AI-systems are acting as humans.

To amend section 4928.73 and to enact section 122.1714 of the Revised Code to create a regulatory, economic, and energy market framework for fusion energy and to name this act the Ohio Fusion Energy Advancement Act.