01/24/2025

Senate Bill 4

Lead Sponsors: Senator Theresa Gavarone

Status: Passed the Senate, 24-8 (June 18, 2025)

Description: Many components of the bill, As Passed by the Senate, were included in House Bill 96, the state operating budget. The budget, and therefore the components of this bill that were in the budget, took effect on September 30, 2025.

Two components of the bill that were not passed in the budget are:

• If a county prosecutor does not prosecute an alleged violation referred to them within 12 months, the Election Integrity Unit can re-refer the issue to the Attorney General.
  • This provision was included in the budget but vetoed by Governor DeWine.
    
    
• The bill does not include a provision that was added during the budget process that would authorize the Election Integrity Unit to investigate violations of the Campaign Finance Law.

CCAO Position: No position (as of October 2025)