News & Commentary

The people of Ohio endorsed a policy to legalize and repair resoundingly. As it stands today, Sub. SB 56 remains at odds with this endorsement.

SB 153 continues the ongoing trajectory in our state of deliberately and unnecessarily making it increasingly more difficult for otherwise legally qualified voters to cast their ballot.

SB 88 broadly bans the ownership of property in and throughout Ohio by governments deemed to be foreign adversaries or supporters of terrorism, among other possible designations and considerations.

Ohio levies harsh punitive measures on adolescents that do not ultimately make communities safer or return youth home better off; on the contrary, they often leave facilities more traumatized than when they first arrived.

The ACLU of Ohio believes there are aspects of Amended House Bill 5 worthy of additional and thorough consideration so you, and all Ohioans, know the complete ramifications of its passage.

Our opposition comes not from the protection of private expression HB 75 provides, but rather the fact HB 75 protects and addresses only one type of expression, one message. When Government puts its finger on the speech scale, as it does with HB 75, it creates First Amendment problems. For these reasons, the ACLU of Ohio encourages this committee’s rejection of House Bill 75.

Police surveillance is particularly concerning not only because it infringes on privacy, but also because it comes with enforcement power.

The ACLU of Ohio believes there are some positive parts of HB 160. But they do not outweigh mandatory jail sentences, criminalizing behavior to make things worse than before Issue 2, gutting reform efforts and funding, and kicking to the curb those most impacted by Ohio’s nonsensical, never-ending War on Drugs. For these reasons and more, the ACLU of Ohio urges this committee’s rejection of House Bill 160.

In the wake of the passage and implementation of Senate Bill 104, an anti-trans bathroom bill and the gerrymandered realities of the Ohio state legislature – local work and reforms are more important than ever.