OhioHB 31136th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Require electronic recordings of all parole board hearings

Sponsored By: Brian Stewart (Republican), Latyna M. Humphrey (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, and Law EnforcementCrime and PunishmentPostconviction RemediesPrisons and JailsSentencingState and Local GovernmentPublic Records

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Release presumption for qualifying prisoners

Only prisoners who meet the 80%-served criteria and receive the corrections director’s recommendation can use this release path. After confirming eligibility, the court must grant release unless the prosecutor proves stronger government interests in continued confinement. The prosecutor must show that those interests more likely than not outweigh the prisoner’s interests in release. The hearing must occur 30 to 60 days after notice. The court must rule within 10 days after the hearing.

Victims gain privacy and lawsuit rights

Victim and representative statements given to the corrections department during a pending pardon, commutation, or parole are confidential. They cannot be subpoenaed, obtained through discovery, or admitted as evidence. Details identifying victims or their families in full parole hearing recordings receive the same protection. Victims can sue the responsible person for unlawful disclosure of their identifying information in parole hearing recordings, summaries, or related communications. The law sets no damages amount.

Victims get related video records free

Police agencies and prosecutors cannot charge qualifying victims, their lawyers, or their insurers to prepare or copy relevant video records. The victim must reasonably explain how the video relates to the act or omission that caused harm or loss. A required affidavit must state that the video will help investigate harm or damages it may show. A lawyer must provide a signed retention agreement or representation letter.

Parole hearings recorded with victim safeguards

Ohio’s rules must require electronic recordings of full parole board hearings, parole revocation hearings, and post-release control violation hearings. Full parole board hearing recordings are public records, with victim privacy protections. Public copies must remove statements by victims and their representatives. They must also remove identifying details about victims and their families, including names, birth dates, addresses, and contact information.

Prison summary information can be disclosed

Ohio’s inmate-records rule no longer bars disclosure of information in an institutional summary report. The change allows more information to be shared. It does not require the corrections department to release every summary report.

Hearing recording access with sharing limits

The corrections department must provide requested parole revocation or post-release control violation recordings to people legally entitled to them. These include the hearing’s subject, their attorney, the prosecutor, and the victim. Recipients must keep recordings private and cannot copy them or post them online. A recipient who requests a transcript must pay for transcription.

Prisoner health disclosures and lawsuit rights

When a prisoner raises a medical condition or diagnosis while seeking parole, the board must send related health records to prosecutors. Those records must accompany the hearing notice. For judicial release motions under division (N)(1), prosecutors can request relevant health records, and the corrections department must provide them. Incarcerated people can sue for unlawful disclosure of protected health information in parole hearing recordings, summaries, or related communications. The law sets no damages amount.

Video fee caps and upfront payments

Police agencies and prosecutors can charge to prepare video records for viewing or copying. Charges cannot exceed actual cost, $75 per hour of video produced, or $750 total, whichever is lowest. An office can require advance payment only if its public-records policy allows it. It must then provide an estimate within five business days. With advance notice, added charges cannot exceed 20% above the estimate, and the overall caps still apply.

Wider sharing of confidential prisoner assessments

Authorized users can share risk assessment reports with law enforcement, halfway houses, and treatment providers for correctional and rehabilitation purposes. They can also share reports with prisoners’ attorneys and prosecutors for parole matters. Qualified people and research groups can receive reports for research, evaluation, or statistics under written agreements. This expands access to confidential prisoner information, but the reports remain nonpublic and disclosures must protect confidential information.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Adam Mathews
Republican • House
Andrea White
Republican • House
Bernard Willis
Republican • House
Beryl Brown Piccolantonio
Democratic • House
Beth Lear
Republican • House
Bob Peterson
Republican • House
Bride Rose Sweeney
Democratic • House
C. Allison Russo
Democratic • House
Cecil Thomas
Democratic • House
Chris Glassburn
Democratic • House
Christine Cockley
Democratic • House
Crystal Lett
Democratic • House
Dani Isaacsohn
Democratic • House
Darnell T. Brewer
Democratic • House
Derrick Hall
Democratic • House
Desiree Tims
Democratic • House
Dontavius L. Jarrells
Democratic • House
Eric Synenberg
Democratic • House
Erika White
Democratic • House
Gary Click
Republican • House
Gayle Manning
Republican • House
George F. Lang
Republican • Senate
Hearcel F. Craig
Democratic • Senate
Ismail Mohamed
Democratic • House
Jack K. Daniels
Republican • House
Jean Schmidt
Republican • House
Jennifer Gross
Republican • House
Jerry C. Cirino
Republican • Senate
Jodi Salvo
Republican • House
Joseph A. Miller, III
Democratic • House
Josh Williams
Republican • House
Juanita O. Brent
Democratic • House
Karen Brownlee
Democratic • House
Kellie Deeter
Republican • House
Kent Smith
Democratic • Senate
Kevin Ritter
Republican • House
Lauren McNally
Democratic • House
Marilyn John
Republican • House
Mark Hiner
Republican • House
Mark Johnson
Republican • House
Mark Sigrist
Democratic • House
Matthew Kishman
Republican • House
Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe
Democratic • House
Michael D. Dovilla
Republican • House
Michele Grim
Democratic • House
Michele Reynolds
Republican • Senate
Monica Robb Blasdel
Republican • House
Nathan H. Manning
Republican • Senate
Nickie J. Antonio
Democratic • Senate
Phil Plummer
Republican • House
Sean P. Brennan
Democratic • House
Sedrick Denson
Democratic • House
Sharon A. Ray
Republican • House
Steve Wilson
Republican • Senate
Terrence Upchurch
Democratic • House
Tex Fischer
Republican • House
Theresa Gavarone
Republican • Senate
Thomas F. Patton
Republican • Senate
Thomas Hall
Republican • House
Tom Young
Republican • House
Tristan Rader
Democratic • House
Ty D. Mathews
Republican • House
Veronica R. Sims
Democratic • House
William P. DeMora
Democratic • Senate
Willis E. Blackshear, Jr.
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 237 • No: 0

House vote • 5/20/2026

Concurred in Senate amendments

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Passed

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/11/2026

Judiciary: Reported

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 6/11/2025

Passed

Yes: 92 • No: 0

House vote • 6/4/2025

Government Oversight: Reported

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor
6/8/2026Governor
Sent to Governor
6/2/2026Governor
Concurred in Senate amendments
5/20/2026House
Passed
5/13/2026Senate
Reported
3/11/2026Senate
Refer to Committee
6/18/2025Senate
Introduced
6/12/2025Senate
Passed
6/11/2025House
Reported
6/4/2025House
Refer to Committee
2/5/2025House
Introduced
1/30/2025House

Bill Text

As Enrolled
6/8/2026
HTML PDF
As Introduced
HTML PDF
As Passed by the House
HTML PDF
As Passed by the Senate
HTML PDF
As Reported by the House Government Oversight Committee
HTML PDF
As Reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee
HTML PDF

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