To amend sections 4503.44 and 4511.69 of the Revised Code to create a removable windshield placard that grants accessible parking privileges to pregnant women.
Summary
HB 450 would amend Ohio’s accessible parking laws to create a new “pregnancy removable windshield placard” for pregnant women. Under the bill, a pregnant applicant could obtain a placard by submitting a completed application and a prescription from a health care provider, and the placard would be valid for one year and not renewable, though a new placard could be issued for a subsequent pregnancy. The bill also updates the definitions and administrative rules governing standard, temporary, and permanent placards, while preserving existing placards issued under prior law until they expire, are surrendered, or are revoked.
The bill also revises the parking statute to expressly include pregnant women among those entitled to use accessible parking spaces when displaying a valid pregnancy placard. It maintains the existing enforcement framework for misuse of placards and unauthorized parking in accessible spaces, including towing authority, fines, and misdemeanor penalties, and it continues to require accessible parking signage at public facilities and certain private lots. In addition, the bill clarifies that a person transporting a pregnant woman or postpartum woman may use the new placard, and it preserves the two-hour parking extension for eligible vehicles where local rules do not provide otherwise.
Impact
HB 450 would change Ohio Revised Code sections 4503.44 and 4511.69 by expanding eligibility for accessible parking privileges beyond people with qualifying disabilities to include pregnant women through a newly created pregnancy-specific placard. It would require the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to administer a new placard type, set a one-year expiration, and update records, forms, and rules accordingly. The bill would also affect enforcement and parking access rules for state and local governments, private parking facilities, law enforcement, and placard users by adding pregnancy placards to the list of valid credentials for accessible parking.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been introduced in support of expanding parking access for pregnant women, and its caption reflects a straightforward policy purpose rather than a broader restructuring of the accessible parking system. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials, there is no documented debate or formal legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s introduction and referral to the House Children and Human Services Committee. The text itself suggests an intent to add a limited, targeted accommodation while keeping the existing disability placard framework intact.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is whether pregnancy should qualify for accessible parking privileges alongside permanent or mobility-limiting disabilities. Supporters would likely view the placard as a practical accommodation for pregnancy-related mobility limitations, while critics may question whether it broadens a limited parking benefit too far or creates enforcement and eligibility concerns. Another possible issue is administrative complexity, since the bill creates a new placard category, requires medical certification, and distinguishes pregnancy placards from temporary and permanent placards. No specific objections or amendments are documented in the provided materials.
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