Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed 13 House Bills and two Senate Bills into law on July 7, 2026, addressing a wide range of issues from public safety and criminal justice to economic development and education across the state.
Among the new laws, House Bill 20 modifies the offense of obstructing official business, increasing penalties when the victim is an emergency service responder and clarifying heightened penalties for menacing a probation officer. House Bill 492 expands the prohibition against interfering with arrest to all motor vehicle-related laws and requires drivers and passengers to disclose personal information to peace officers upon request. Additionally, House Bill 251 establishes requirements for law enforcement and public entities regarding the use and purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Other significant legislation includes House Bill 292, which creates the Ohio Defense and Space Advisory Commission and the Defense and Aerospace Industries Expansion Program, allowing the Department of Development to issue grants. Senate Bill 276 ratifies the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, modifies the Interstate Massage Compact, and enacts the Student Athlete Mobility (SAM) Act concerning student participation in extracurricular activities at neighboring public schools.
Further bills signed into law address the sale of used catalytic converters (HB 210), revise state regulations for non-recourse litigation funding agreements (HB 105), and make changes to the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code (HB 195). House Bill 541 designates a portion of U.S. Route 42 in Morrow County as the "Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway."