Ohio Adds New Hate‑Crime Law to Protect Everyone

The Ohio House has moved a new bill that will give the state its first clear hate‑crime law. House Bill 306 was presented to the Judiciary Committee on February 25 by two lawmakers, one Democrat and one Republican. The bill would change the current law that only covers race, color, religion or national origin. Key points of the proposal: • It creates a crime called “hate crime” for attacks based on race, religion, sex, disability, politics, age, military or family status, ancestry, national origin or labor disputes. • It makes it illegal to threaten or scare someone with violence because of those traits. • The penalty for the underlying offense rises by one level; a misdemeanor could become a felony. • It adds new crimes such as “swatting” and the distribution of threatening messages on private property. • Victims could sue for damages, lawyer fees and up to $25, 000 in a civil case.The bill would let prosecutors prove that the attacker had a bias motive. If they cannot meet that high standard, victims still have a civil option. Supporters say the law is needed because hate‑motivated attacks hurt entire communities, not just individuals. Opponents worry that proving bias is hard and that the law could hurt free speech if it is too broad. The bill tries to protect speech by saying only threats that can lead to violence, create fear or are reckless will be illegal. The proposal also touches on antisemitism. It does not copy international definitions but strengthens protection against religious hate while keeping Ohio’s own rules. Both parties agree that people should not be targeted for who they are, but the debate shows how difficult it is to balance civil rights and free expression. The law could be a step forward if the courts enforce it fairly.