Bill > SB87

This bill amends Ohio law to define antisemitism and expand the offense of ethnic intimidation. Specifically, it adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism and adds riot and aggravated riot to the list of offenses that can be considered ethnic intimidation when motivated by a person's race, color, religion, or national origin. The bill requires state agencies to consider this definition of antisemitism when investigating potential discriminatory acts, while explicitly protecting First Amendment rights and ensuring the definition does not conflict with existing anti-discrimination laws. The definition of antisemitism will be incorporated into Ohio's civil rights statutes, providing state agencies with a standardized framework for identifying and addressing antisemitic actions. By expanding the ethnic intimidation statute to include riot-related offenses, the bill aims to provide stronger legal protections against hate-motivated violence and intimidation targeting specific groups based on their identity characteristics.

Justice

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb87