To amend sections 113.70, 113.71, 113.72, 113.73, 113.74, 113.75, 113.76, and 5501.521; to enact new section 113.77 and sections 113.80, 113.81, 113.82, 113.83, and 113.84; and to repeal section 113.77 of the Revised Code to create the Ohio Local Government Expenditure Database and require political subdivision participation, to require the state retirement systems to participate in the Ohio State Government Expenditure Database, and to make an appropriation.
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.
HB 396 expands Ohio's Address Confidentiality Program to protect more individuals in high-risk situations. It directly affects victims of domestic violence, stalking, and other threats who need to keep their home addresses private from public records. The key provision updates the law to allow these individuals to use a secure P.O. box for official mail and address verification instead of their actual residence. This change helps them maintain safety while still accessing government services without revealing their location.
To amend sections 2307.66, 2917.211, and 2981.02 and to enact sections 2307.68 and 2907.312 of the Revised Code to enact the Innocence Act to prohibit an organization from failing to verify the age of a person attempting to access material that is obscene or harmful to juveniles, to prohibit a person from using another person's likeness to create sexual images of the other person, and to create a private right of action for each prohibited activity.
HB 476 amends Ohio's Charitable Gaming Law to allow charities to conduct raffles online, rather than only in-person. It specifically updates sections 2915.01, 2915.092, and 2915.14 to authorize this new method of fundraising. The bill directly affects Ohio-registered charities that currently use raffles as a fundraising tool. The law declares an emergency to expedite implementation, making online raffles a legal option under the state's charitable gaming rules.
HB 144 expands Ohio's communication disability database to include all individuals with disabilities, not just those with specific communication needs. It requires county 9-1-1 systems to access this database during emergency calls, ensuring first responders can quickly identify communication support needs. The law, named "Keith's Law," directly affects people with disabilities during emergencies and 9-1-1 dispatchers who will use the database to provide appropriate assistance.
HB 188 establishes the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership, a state-funded initiative to strengthen economic ties between Ohio and Israel. It directly affects Ohio businesses, universities, and innovation hubs seeking collaboration opportunities with Israeli companies. The bill creates a dedicated partnership program under Ohio law and allocates state funding to support joint research, trade missions, and business development activities. This is a concrete policy change that formalizes a new state mechanism for international economic engagement.
HR 227 urges the U.S. Department of Justice to prioritize connecting the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database - which tracks crime records - and the NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) database. This non-binding resolution does not create new laws but calls on the DOJ to accelerate efforts to integrate these systems. The goal is to help law enforcement more quickly match missing persons reports with unidentified remains stored in NamUs. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and families of missing persons by improving access to critical case information.
HB 162, titled the "My Child-My Chart Act," enacts section 3798.05 of the Revised Code to establish new rules for minors' medical records. The bill directly affects minors (typically under 18), healthcare providers, and parents or guardians by changing how medical records for minors are handled. Key provisions require healthcare providers to obtain a minor’s consent before sharing their medical records with parents or guardians, unless the minor is deemed incapable of making decisions. This law shifts control over medical record access from parents to the minor in specific situations, creating a clearer legal framework for minor autonomy in healthcare.
Urging Ohio electric utility stakeholders, the Governor, and the Congress of the United States to invest resources into the security, reliability, and resiliency of the state and national interconnected electric grids against natural and man-made threats.
