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OhioHB 440136th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

Regards the Board of Nursing and criminal records check results

Sponsored By: Brian Stewart (Republican), Kellie Deeter (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Human ServicesHealth CareOccupational Licensing and Regulation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Limits on volunteer nursing certificate denials

Ohio's nursing board cannot deny a volunteer nursing certificate based on listed criminal case outcomes unless state-law standards allow it. Covered outcomes include convictions, guilty pleas, findings of guilt, and findings of eligibility for diversion or intervention instead of conviction. This limits criminal-history denials but does not guarantee a certificate.

Nursing impairment exams carry practice conditions

The law replaces earlier Ohio nursing background-check, licensing, and discipline statutes. During investigations, the nursing board can order physical or mental exams when suspected impairment may make nursing or dialysis care unsafe. The person examined pays the exam cost, but people referred to the Safe Haven Program cannot be compelled to take these exams. Failing to take a required exam generally counts as an admission and can lead to a final order without participation. If impairment is found, the board requires treatment, counseling, or monitoring as a condition of starting, continuing, or returning to practice.

Required nursing background checks stay private

Covered Ohio nursing license and certificate applicants must submit fingerprints for state and FBI criminal-record checks at their own expense. Checks also apply when reactivating licenses inactive for at least 5 years or reinstating licenses lapsed for at least 5 years. Volunteer nursing applicants retired for at least 10 years and people ordered checked during board investigations must also complete checks. Results, FBI information, and reports containing them are not public; only the person checked and Ohio's nursing board may receive them. The board may use them only for specified licensing, permit, reactivation, reinstatement, and discipline decisions. The law takes effect immediately to protect these records.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Brian Stewart

    Republican • House

  • Kellie Deeter

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Anita Somani

    Democratic • House

  • Bernard Willis

    Republican • House

  • Bill Reineke

    Republican • Senate

  • Brian Lorenz

    Republican • House

  • Catherine D. Ingram

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris Glassburn

    Democratic • House

  • Cindy Abrams

    Republican • House

  • Daniel P. Troy

    Democratic • House

  • Darnell T. Brewer

    Democratic • House

  • Derrick Hall

    Democratic • House

  • Dontavius L. Jarrells

    Democratic • House

  • Elgin Rogers, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Erika White

    Democratic • House

  • George F. Lang

    Republican • Senate

  • Haraz N. Ghanbari

    Republican • House

  • Hearcel F. Craig

    Democratic • Senate

  • James M. Hoops

    Republican • House

  • Jane M. Timken

    Republican • Senate

  • Jean Schmidt

    Republican • House

  • Jennifer Gross

    Republican • House

  • Jerry C. Cirino

    Republican • Senate

  • Johnathan Newman

    Republican • House

  • Joseph A. Miller, III

    Democratic • House

  • Josh Williams

    Republican • House

  • Mark Hiner

    Republican • House

  • Mark Sigrist

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Miller

    Republican • House

  • Michael D. Dovilla

    Republican • House

  • Monica Robb Blasdel

    Republican • House

  • Phil Plummer

    Republican • House

  • Rachel B. Baker

    Democratic • House

  • Roy Klopfenstein

    Republican • House

  • Sarah Fowler Arthur

    Republican • House

  • Sean P. Brennan

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon A. Ray

    Republican • House

  • Stephen A. Huffman

    Republican • Senate

  • Terry Johnson

    Republican • Senate

  • Theresa Gavarone

    Republican • Senate

  • Tim Barhorst

    Republican • House

  • Tom Young

    Republican • House

  • Tracy M. Richardson

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 144 • No: 0

Senate vote • 11/19/2025

Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 11/19/2025

Health: Reported

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 10/1/2025

Passed

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 10/1/2025

Health: Reported

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    12/19/2025Governor

  2. Sent to Governor

    12/9/2025Governor

  3. Passed

    11/19/2025Senate

  4. Reported

    11/19/2025Senate

  5. Refer to Committee

    10/8/2025Senate

  6. Introduced

    10/7/2025Senate

  7. Passed

    10/1/2025House

  8. Reported

    10/1/2025House

  9. Refer to Committee

    9/12/2025House

  10. Introduced

    9/8/2025House

Bill Text

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