COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new bipartisan proposal at the Ohio Statehouse seeks to toughen the state’s hate crime laws and broaden the protections afforded to residents. Representatives Dontavius Jarrells, a Democrat from Columbus, and Josh Williams, a Republican from Sylvania Township, introduced House Bill 306 earlier this year. Called the Hate Crime Act, the legislation is designed to modernize Ohio’s approach to hate crime protections and bring the state more in line with the laws already in place elsewhere across the country.
Currently, Ohio lacks a comprehensive statute addressing hate crimes. The state law on the books prohibits ethnic intimidation, which specifically covers crimes motivated by race, color, religion or national origin. Under the law, ethnic intimidation is added to an underlying crime to enhance penalties, raising the charge to the next degree. While this offers some protection, lawmakers and advocates have long argued that it leaves many groups vulnerable.
The new bill proposes expanding the categories recognized under Ohio law to include crimes driven by a person’s sex, ancestry, age, familial status, military service, disability, position in a labor dispute, or political affiliation. If passed, the Hate Crime Act would officially define such incidents as hate crimes. Offenders found guilty would face sentencing one degree higher than the original charge, echoing the existing system for ethnic intimidation but extending it to cover many more situations.
In addition to expanding the scope of hate crimes, the bill would create civil remedies for victims. Those harmed by hate crimes would gain the ability to sue offenders for financial damages, with the amount left to the discretion of a court. The proposal also allows for civil fines of up to $25,000 against offenders, adding another deterrent and route for accountability.
Representative Jarrells explained that the state’s current system does not go far enough in protecting communities. “Hate should have no place in the state,” he said, stressing that Ohio’s existing statutes are comparatively weak when measured against laws passed in other states. He noted that broadening protections will make the law more reflective of the real types of bias-motivated incidents occurring across Ohio today.
Representative Williams, who co-sponsored the bill, said he was motivated by what he described as a concerning increase in hate-motivated incidents. He cited assaults, harassment and vandalism against students on college campuses based on their religion as well as politically motivated violence and intimidation. Williams pointed to high-profile swatting cases targeting Ohio officials, including Attorney General Dave Yost and several lawmakers. Swatting involves a false report of a violent crime that prompts an armed police response to a victim’s location, and it has increasingly been used as a form of harassment against public figures and political opponents.
By including political affiliation and position in the scope of the legislation, Williams argued that the bill addresses not only long-standing issues of bias but also more modern threats to democracy and civil life. Protecting people from being targeted for their political beliefs, he said, is essential in a time when such incidents are becoming more common.
The Hate Crime Act represents a bipartisan effort to strengthen accountability and support for victims while updating Ohio’s legal framework to address current realities. Advocates hope it will send a clear message that Ohio does not tolerate violence or intimidation motivated by prejudice, whether rooted in race, religion, gender, politics or other identities. The legislation will next move through committee hearings before advancing for a possible vote.
