Statehouse Status Report, New Limits and Safety Standards

The Change: This bill creates a new criminal offense specifically for "negligent assault of a peace officer" when the harm involves drugs or infectious diseases.

The Details: By amending sections 2903.14 and 2927.15 of the Revised Code, the bill makes it a first degree misdemeanor to negligently cause physical harm to an officer if you are in possession of controlled substances or drug paraphernalia. And if that harm results in a substantial risk of exposure to an infectious disease, the charge jumps to a fifth degree felony. It also sets up a legal process where a court can order the collection of blood or other bodily substances from a defendant to test for those diseases.

The Change: This legislation aims to strengthen legal protections and civil recourse for victims of childhood and student sexual abuse.

The Details: The bill amends sections 2305.111 and 2315.18 of the Revised Code to adjust how the law handles civil actions related to sexual abuse. A key part of the bill is ensuring that certain legal changes remain in place past 2028, specifically continuing the statute of limitations and liability rules that allow victims to seek justice later in life. It focuses on clarifying the legal timeline for when a victim can file a lawsuit against an individual or an institution.

The Change: This bill would prohibit any middle school or high school athlete in Ohio from earning money from their name, image, or likeness (NIL).

The Details: The legislation seeks to enact sections 3373.01, 3373.02, and 3373.03 of the Revised Code to create a total ban on NIL compensation for student athletes in grades seven through twelve. It applies to all types of schools, including public, community, and STEM schools. Under this rule, no school or athletic conference could allow a student to earn money connected to their participation in sports. If a student does take money, the bill requires they be barred from participating in that specific sport.

The Change: This bill increases the criminal penalties for people who "recklessly" disturb or interrupt a lawful meeting.

The Details: The bill amends section 2917.12 of the Revised Code to toughen the consequences for disturbing public gatherings. While current law already prohibits disrupting meetings, this update increases the penalty when the disruption happens under certain circumstances, such as being persistent or preventing the meeting from continuing. It is designed to give local boards and councils more leverage to maintain order during public sessions.

The Change: This bill creates a specialized commission to study how artificial intelligence is being used within state and local governments.

The Details: The bill establishes the Artificial Intelligence Study Commission to look into the benefits and risks of AI technology. The commission will be responsible for making formal recommendations on how the state should regulate or use AI in the future. This is a study measure, so it does not change the Revised Code for citizens yet, but it sets the stage for future laws regarding technology and government efficiency.