(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson and other law enforcement leaders today called on state legislators to approve a series of public-safety bills before the 136th General Assembly concludes its work.
“These common-sense reforms will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to keep our communities safe,” Wilson said. “The bills address emerging threats, hold criminals accountable and provide greater protections for vulnerable Ohioans. We urge lawmakers to pass these bills before the end of the year.”
In a letter to state lawmakers, Wilson joined representatives of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association and Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police in outlining the following legislative priorities:
- House Bill 217 (sponsored by Reps. Kevin Ritter and Christine Cockley): Implements and builds upon the recommendations of Gov. DeWine’s Missing Persons Working Group through expanded reporting requirements in the federal National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
- House Bill 343 (sponsored by Rep. Brian Lorenz): Targets an increasing trend in car thefts and vandalism perpetrated by minors. This tough-on-crime bill strengthens penalties and expands offenses to encompass vehicle break-ins and smash-and-grabs.
- House Bill 372 (sponsored by Reps. Cindy Abrams and Phil Plummer): The “Larry Henderson Act” provides justice for Ohio law enforcement officers murdered in the line of duty by removing the possibility of parole for this class of offenders.
- House Bill 648 (sponsored by Reps. Matthew Kishman and Melanie Miller): Protects our senior citizens and other at-risk individuals from crypto-related scams plaguing our communities by requiring the registration and regulation of money transmitter kiosks.
- House Bill 667 (sponsored by Rep. Cindy Abrams): The “Reagan Tokes and Patrick Heringer Act” enhances public safety by improving real-time GPS monitoring of offenders on supervised release, requiring the entry of warrants into the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) for offenders who abscond, and modifying the procedures in current law surrounding the Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison (T-CAP) for repeat and problem offenders.
- Senate Bill 163 and Senate Bill 393 (sponsored by Sens. Lou Blessing, Terry Johnson, Jane Timken, and Nathan Manning): Strengthen penalties and protections against child sexual abuse material in the age of artificial intelligence.
Statements from our partners
Lou Tobin, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association
“The enactment of this slate of bills will help protect some of Ohio’s most vulnerable, including children and the elderly; ensure appropriate accountability for those who murder police; give police and prosecutors more tools to combat the scourge of car thefts that plague our state; and improve monitoring and accountability for dangerous offenders who have been released from prison. These bills are critical to improving public safety in Ohio.”
Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach, president of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association
“The Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association supports these bills and what they will do to protect Ohioans. We want to thank Attorney General Wilson for his leadership in identifying these bills and the discussions that followed. We also want to thank the leadership of our fellow associations for continuing to work together for the betterment of our communities. We encourage the General Assembly to take action on these bills to help provide law enforcement with tools to continue to serve our communities to the best of our abilities.”
Medina Police Chief Edward R. Kinney, president of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police
“The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police strongly supports these priority bills and the meaningful steps they take to protect Ohioans and strengthen public safety. We appreciate Attorney General Wilson and our fellow associations for their leadership and aggressive advocacy in advancing these important bills. Together, we urge the General Assembly to prioritize these bills and provide law enforcement with the tools needed to better serve and protect our communities.”
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