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OhioHB 20136th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

Prohibit harassing or impeding an emergency service responder

Sponsored By: Phil Plummer (Republican), Thomas Hall (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, and Law EnforcementCrime and PunishmentLaw Enforcement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New distance rules around emergency responders

Ohio law bars people without legal privilege from knowingly approaching or staying within 15 feet of a responder after a warning. The rule applies when they interfere with the responder’s lawful work or threaten the responder with physical harm. The warning must be a clear verbal command to keep back, stay away, or not interfere. Obstructing official business is generally a second-degree misdemeanor; obstructing a responder’s lawful work after the responder’s warning makes it a first-degree misdemeanor. Creating a risk of physical harm makes the offense a fourth-degree felony for risk to a responder, or a fifth-degree felony for risk to someone else.

Stronger threat protections for emergency responders

Ohio law expands menacing to cover targeted deadly-weapon displays against emergency responders, their family or household members, and coworkers. This includes attempts to cause reasonable fear of physical harm or death, using a working or nonworking weapon. The offender must know, or reasonably should know, the target’s status and specifically intend to target that person. Covered responders include municipal, county, and common pleas court probation officers. Threats aimed at a target’s employer, including a government employer, can also support a finding of menacing. Menacing is generally a fourth-degree misdemeanor; targeting a responder doing official work makes it a first-degree misdemeanor. It becomes a fourth-degree felony with a prior violence conviction or guilty plea against a qualifying children-services worker or responder tied to that person’s official duties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Phil Plummer

    Republican • House

  • Thomas Hall

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Adam C. Bird

    Republican • House

  • Adam Holmes

    Republican • House

  • Adam Mathews

    Republican • House

  • Bernard Willis

    Republican • House

  • Beth Lear

    Republican • House

  • Bill Roemer

    Republican • House

  • Bob Peterson

    Republican • House

  • Brian Lampton

    Republican • House

  • Cecil Thomas

    Democratic • House

  • Cindy Abrams

    Republican • House

  • David Thomas

    Republican • House

  • Gary Click

    Republican • House

  • Haraz N. Ghanbari

    Republican • House

  • Heidi Workman

    Republican • House

  • Jack K. Daniels

    Republican • House

  • Jean Schmidt

    Republican • House

  • Jeff LaRe

    Republican • House

  • Jennifer Gross

    Republican • House

  • Jodi Salvo

    Republican • House

  • Johnathan Newman

    Republican • House

  • Josh Williams

    Republican • House

  • Kellie Deeter

    Republican • House

  • Kevin D. Miller

    Republican • House

  • Kevin Ritter

    Republican • House

  • Mark Hiner

    Republican • House

  • Mark Sigrist

    Democratic • House

  • Matthew Kishman

    Republican • House

  • Meredith Craig

    Republican • House

  • Michael D. Dovilla

    Republican • House

  • Mike Odioso

    Republican • House

  • Monica Robb Blasdel

    Republican • House

  • Nathan H. Manning

    Republican • Senate

  • Nick Santucci

    Republican • House

  • Riordan T. McClain

    Republican • House

  • Rodney Creech

    Republican • House

  • Scott Oelslager

    Republican • House

  • Sean P. Brennan

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon A. Ray

    Republican • House

  • Steve Demetriou

    Republican • House

  • Tom Young

    Republican • House

  • Tracy M. Richardson

    Republican • House

  • Ty D. Mathews

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 206 • No: 34

House vote • 6/9/2026

Concurred in Senate amendments

Yes: 83 • No: 12

Senate vote • 6/3/2026

Passed

Yes: 29 • No: 2

Senate vote • 6/3/2026

Judiciary: Reported

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 6/18/2025

Public Safety: Reported

Yes: 8 • No: 2

House vote • 6/18/2025

Passed

Yes: 79 • No: 18

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/7/2026Governor

  2. Sent to Governor

    7/1/2026Governor

  3. Concurred in Senate amendments

    6/9/2026House

  4. Passed

    6/3/2026Senate

  5. Reported

    6/3/2026Senate

  6. Refer to Committee

    6/25/2025Senate

  7. Introduced

    6/24/2025Senate

  8. Passed

    6/18/2025House

  9. Reported

    6/18/2025House

  10. Refer to Committee

    1/28/2025House

  11. Introduced

    1/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Enrolled

    7/7/2026

    HTMLPDF

  • As Introduced

    HTMLPDF

  • As Passed by the House

    HTMLPDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    HTMLPDF

  • As Reported by the House Public Safety Committee

    HTMLPDF

  • As Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee

    HTMLPDF

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