COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Several new Ohio laws took effect Tuesday, including changes involving traffic stops, protections for first responders, school curriculum, vehicular homicide and fraud prevention in public assistance programs.
Gov. Mike DeWine signed 13 bills on July 7, with all 13 taking effect Oct. 6.
One of the new laws, House Bill 20, establishes a 15-foot buffer around first responders in certain circumstances.
Under the law, a person who has been warned may not knowingly approach or remain within 15 feet of a first responder while interfering with the responder’s duties or threatening the responder with physical harm.
First responders covered by the law include law enforcement officers, emergency medical services workers, firefighters and probation officers.
A violation is generally a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The offense can become a felony when it creates a risk of physical harm to a first responder or another person.
House Bill 492 changes requirements during traffic stops. Drivers and passengers must provide their name, address and date of birth when requested by a law enforcement officer who reasonably suspects they have committed a violation of Ohio’s motor vehicle laws.
Refusing to provide the requested information is a fourth-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $250.
The law does not require drivers or passengers to answer additional questions beyond providing the identifying information.
HB 492 also expands Ohio’s law prohibiting interference with an officer making an arrest under the state’s motor vehicle laws and increases the penalty for that offense.
Senate Bill 276 includes several changes affecting Ohio schools.
The law requires public school districts to teach students in grades six through 12 about the “success sequence,” which emphasizes completing high school, obtaining full-time employment and marrying before having children as factors associated with a lower likelihood of living in poverty as an adult.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is responsible for maintaining a list of curricula and resources for teaching the material.
SB 276 also requires school districts to establish policies allowing students from neighboring districts to petition to participate in extracurricular activities when their home school does not offer the activity.
The law also makes Ohio a member of the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, allowing participating states to recognize equivalent licenses for school psychologists.
House Bill 533 expands Ohio’s vehicular homicide and vehicular assault laws to cover additional types of vehicles, including golf carts, motorized bicycles, mopeds, motor scooters and all-purpose vehicles.
The change does not create new offenses or increase existing penalties but expands the types of vehicles covered by the state’s existing laws.
Senate Bill 315 establishes changes aimed at reducing fraud involving Ohio’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid.
The law requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to begin transitioning SNAP recipients to chip-enabled electronic benefit transfer cards.
The law also establishes additional requirements for Medicaid providers, including requiring certain in-home care providers to clock in and out and use GPS technology to verify when and where services are provided.
SB 315 expands the authority of the Ohio attorney general and state auditor to investigate Medicaid fraud allegations, requires the Ohio Department of Medicaid to suspend certain payments when credible fraud allegations are submitted by those offices, increases penalties for Medicaid fraud and expands protections for people who report suspected fraud.
The Ohio Legislature lists Oct. 6, 2026, as the effective date for HB 492, SB 276 and SB 315, while HB 533 is also among the bills taking effect as part of the latest round of enacted legislation.
Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by AVC News
