summary
Introduced
02/11/2025
02/11/2025
In Committee
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Crossed Over
03/18/2026
03/18/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
136th General Assembly
Bill Summary
To amend sections 1349.10 and 1349.101 and to enact section 109.1111 of the Revised Code to establish the Innocence Act Enforcement Fund, designate specified provisions of law as the Innocence Act, and clarify the Attorney General's enforcement authority.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Innocence Act," establishes the "Innocence Act Enforcement Fund" and designates specific sections of law as the "Innocence Act" to clarify the Attorney General's authority in enforcing these provisions. The Act requires organizations that provide online material or performances deemed obscene or harmful to juveniles to implement robust age verification methods, including using photo identification, visual age verification software, or transactional data, and to employ geofencing technology to ensure users are not located within Ohio if they are not verified as being 18 or older. It also mandates strict data privacy practices, requiring the immediate deletion of age verification information after it's no longer needed, except for essential account and billing data, which must also be deleted after two years or upon request. The Attorney General is granted the exclusive authority to investigate violations and bring civil enforcement actions, with penalties of up to $100,000 per day for non-compliance, and a portion of these penalties will fund the new Innocence Act Enforcement Fund. The bill also clarifies definitions for terms like "organization," "obscene," and "harmful to juveniles," and outlines procedures for the Attorney General's investigations, including subpoena powers and the confidentiality of certain investigative records.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Justice
Sponsors (54)
Steve Demetriou (R)*,
Josh Williams (R)*,
Tim Barhorst (R),
Adam Bird (R),
Sean Brennan (D),
Thad Claggett (R),
Gary Click (R),
Rodney Creech (R),
Jack Daniels (R),
Levi Dean (R),
Kellie Deeter (R),
Michael Dovilla (R),
Tex Fischer (R),
Sarah Fowler Arthur (R),
Haraz Ghanbari (R),
Jennifer Gross (R),
Derrick Hall (D),
Thomas Hall (R),
Mark Hiner (R),
Adam Holmes (R),
Jim Hoops (R),
Dani Isaacsohn (D),
Marilyn John (R),
Mark Johnson (R),
Angie King (R),
Roy Klopfenstein (R),
Brian Lampton (R),
Beth Lear (R),
Brian Lorenz (R),
Gayle Manning (R),
Adam Mathews (R),
Ty Mathews (R),
Riordan McClain (R),
Kevin Miller (R),
Melanie Miller (R),
Diane Mullins (R),
Johnathan Newman (R),
Scott Oelslager (R),
Bob Peterson (R),
Phil Plummer (R),
Sharon Ray (R),
Tracy Richardson (R),
Monica Robb Blasdel (R),
Jodi Salvo (R),
Jean Schmidt (R),
Mark Sigrist (D),
Brian Stewart (R),
D.J. Swearingen (R),
Eric Synenberg (D),
Cecil Thomas (D),
Andrea White (R),
Bernie Willis (R),
Heidi Workman (R),
Tom Young (R),
Last Action
Referred to committee: Judiciary (on 03/25/2026)
Taxonomy
Law, Crime, and Family Issues
- ‐ Obscenity and Pornography
Space, Science, Technology, and Communications
- ‐ Internet and Computer Issues
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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