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OhioSB 138136th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

Modify alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services laws

Sponsored By: Terry Johnson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Human ServicesMedicaidMental Health and DisabilitiesSubstance Abuse and AddictionState and Local GovernmentLocal Government

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.

Stronger safety protections for treatment residents

Boards must report abuse or neglect complaints involving mental illness, severe mental disability, or addiction services to the state for investigation. This duty no longer depends on a community provider first reporting the complaint. For cross-district complaints, the receiving board must refer the complaint to the board where the residential facility is located. That board is responsible for investigating. Boards can enter licensed residential facilities to protect residents whose health or safety is in danger, even without immediate danger. They must respect resident rights and promptly report their protective actions.

Ohio can redirect treatment board funding

Boards must submit community plans, amendments, and budgets for state approval; state and federal funding depends on approved plans. Budgets must show federal, state, and local money, including funds for opioid care and joint child-services work. The director can withhold funds for legal or discrimination violations and must withhold them for disapproved plans, budgets, service lists, or budget misuse. Before withholding, boards receive notice, technical help, and 30 days to respond or submit evidence of corrective action. A hearing must occur within 30 days after the state receives that response or evidence. If the board remains out of compliance, the director can send withheld funds directly to providers until it complies.

More help finding Ohio treatment services

Ohio boards must explain available mental health, addiction, and recovery services to people seeking care, families, caregivers, and the community. Boards must also help connect people with suitable services. Board directors must share public information about mental illness, addiction, prevention, and treatment. Each board must post its district's licensed opioid treatment programs online, updating the list annually and when program membership changes.

Ohio boards must arrange community care

Ohio boards must plan prevention, treatment, and recovery support for mental illness and addiction, with attention to severe needs. As resources allow, boards must arrange care through contracts, following state standards and favoring the least restrictive treatment. Care includes outreach for basic needs, assessments, care coordination, residential care, outpatient treatment, crisis care, and appropriate inpatient treatment. Recovery support includes peer help, recovery housing, work and education opportunities, life skills, and family support. Boards may consider local eligibility methods when planning, but this does not itself change who qualifies. Boards do not have to spend beyond their state-approved budgets, and the law does not guarantee each person a service.

Criminal penalties for treatment law violations

Violating Ohio Revised Code section 5119.333, 5119.392(A), or 5119.395(A) is a first-degree misdemeanor. Violations of sections 5119.27, 5119.28, 5119.36(P), or 5119.37(A)(1) or (2) are fifth-degree felonies. The supplied summary does not describe the prohibited conduct or state fine amounts.

Addiction care can move outside districts

The state director can temporarily waive a board's duty to provide ambulatory detoxification or medication-assisted treatment within its district. The board must first make reasonable efforts to provide the service locally. It must contract with an addiction provider located no more than 30 miles beyond the district. Each waiver must state its duration and whether it covers detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, or both.

Shorter contract notices, but transition care

Board-provider contracts must allow early termination for a reason either party considers necessary, with at least 30 days' notice. The other party can appeal to the terminating party's governing board. Written notice of nonrenewal drops from 120 days to 60 days; without notice, a new contract requires successful negotiation. When applicable to client services, contracts must provide 60 additional days of transition care after early-termination notice or nonrenewal. These contract changes apply to contracts entered into or modified starting six months after the act's effective date.

Ohio reviews treatment quality and costs

State quality and efficiency reviews now cover board-run facilities and services, as well as contracted care. Boards may review contracted service costs and use competitive selection, which must prevent conflicts of interest and follow application and selection rules. Boards must review annual financial audit reports from contracted providers of services certified under state law. This replaces their stated duty to audit all contracted programs annually and distribute the reports to specified officials. Contracted residential facilities must be licensed, services requiring certification must be certified, and recovery providers must meet required quality standards.

Treatment data sharing gains privacy limits

The state must develop a data-sharing plan with local boards and other partners to improve service management and availability. When the director finds it necessary, the state must develop and operate, or contract for, a community treatment information system. The director must consult boards and providers first. Boards and providers must send requested information in the form and deadlines the state sets. Personal information can be collected only as state or federal law permits or requires for listed purposes, including payment, operations, research, and oversight.

Ohio boards gain limited contract flexibility

Boards can let executive directors sign emergency clinical or recovery contracts and standard board-operation service contracts worth $25,000 or less. Boards must formally set delegation limits and disclose each contract at their next meeting, recording it in the minutes. Boards must adopt a written policy before first holding a credit card account. Boards already holding accounts must adopt a state-compliant policy within three months after the act's effective date. Gifts, grants, bequests, and their interest must go into the county treasury for the board and serve donor-specified purposes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Terry Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adam Mathews

    Republican • House

  • Al Landis

    Republican • Senate

  • Andrea White

    Republican • House

  • Bernard Willis

    Republican • House

  • Beryl Brown Piccolantonio

    Democratic • House

  • Beth Liston

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bill Reineke

    Republican • Senate

  • Bob Peterson

    Republican • House

  • Brian M. Chavez

    Republican • Senate

  • C. Allison Russo

    Democratic • House

  • Casey Weinstein

    Democratic • Senate

  • Catherine D. Ingram

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cecil Thomas

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Glassburn

    Democratic • House

  • Christine Cockley

    Democratic • House

  • Cindy Abrams

    Republican • House

  • Crystal Lett

    Democratic • House

  • Dani Isaacsohn

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel P. Troy

    Democratic • House

  • Darnell T. Brewer

    Democratic • House

  • Derrick Hall

    Democratic • House

  • Desiree Tims

    Democratic • House

  • Dontavius L. Jarrells

    Democratic • House

  • Elgin Rogers, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Erika White

    Democratic • House

  • Gary Click

    Republican • House

  • Gayle Manning

    Republican • House

  • Hearcel F. Craig

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ismail Mohamed

    Democratic • House

  • Jack K. Daniels

    Republican • House

  • Jean Schmidt

    Republican • House

  • Jerry C. Cirino

    Republican • Senate

  • Jodi Salvo

    Republican • House

  • Johnathan Newman

    Republican • House

  • Joseph A. Miller, III

    Democratic • House

  • Josh Williams

    Republican • House

  • Juanita O. Brent

    Democratic • House

  • Justin Pizzulli

    Republican • House

  • Karen Brownlee

    Democratic • House

  • Kellie Deeter

    Republican • House

  • Kristina D. Roegner

    Republican • Senate

  • Lauren McNally

    Democratic • House

  • Louis W. Blessing, III

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark Johnson

    Republican • House

  • Mark Sigrist

    Democratic • House

  • Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe

    Democratic • House

  • Michael D. Dovilla

    Republican • House

  • Michele Reynolds

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Odioso

    Republican • House

  • Monica Robb Blasdel

    Republican • House

  • Munira Abdullahi

    Democratic • House

  • Nick Santucci

    Republican • House

  • Nickie J. Antonio

    Democratic • Senate

  • Phil Plummer

    Republican • House

  • Rachel B. Baker

    Democratic • House

  • Sandra O'Brien

    Republican • Senate

  • Sean P. Brennan

    Democratic • House

  • Sedrick Denson

    Democratic • House

  • Steve Wilson

    Republican • Senate

  • Terrence Upchurch

    Democratic • House

  • Theresa Gavarone

    Republican • Senate

  • Thomas F. Patton

    Republican • Senate

  • Tim Schaffer

    Republican • Senate

  • Tristan Rader

    Democratic • House

  • Veronica R. Sims

    Democratic • House

  • William P. DeMora

    Democratic • Senate

  • Willis E. Blackshear, Jr.

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 150 • No: 0

House vote • 6/18/2025

Passed

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 6/11/2025

Children and Human Services: Reported

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/7/2025

Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Addiction and Community Revitalization: Reported

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/1/2025Governor

  2. Sent to Governor

    6/24/2025Governor

  3. Passed

    6/18/2025House

  4. Reported

    6/11/2025House

  5. Refer to Committee

    5/14/2025House

  6. Introduced

    5/12/2025House

  7. Passed

    5/7/2025Senate

  8. Reported

    4/30/2025Senate

  9. Refer to Committee

    3/19/2025Senate

  10. Introduced

    3/11/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Enrolled

    7/1/2025

    HTMLPDF

  • As Introduced

    HTMLPDF

  • As Passed by the House

    HTMLPDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    HTMLPDF

  • As Reported by the House Children and Human Services Committee

    HTMLPDF

  • As Reported by the Senate Addiction and Community Revitalization Committee

    HTMLPDF

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