To enact section 1923.111 of the Revised Code to require eviction records to be sealed after three years.
Summary
HB368 would create a new section of the Ohio Revised Code requiring eviction case records to be automatically sealed after three years. Under the bill, records from actions brought under Ohio’s eviction chapter would be sealed three years after the final judgment in the case, or, if a money judgment was entered, three years after the judgment has been fully satisfied. The bill also requires clerks of court to automatically seal any records already eligible within 90 days after the law takes effect.
The practical effect is to limit long-term public access to eviction records, which can affect tenants’ ability to secure housing after an eviction case and reduce the lasting consequences of a past eviction filing. It would not erase the underlying court action, but it would remove eligible records from public view after the specified period and shift responsibility to court clerks to carry out the sealing process automatically.
Impact
HB368 would add section 1923.111 to the Revised Code and change how eviction records are handled in Ohio courts by mandating automatic sealing after a set period. It would affect court clerks, landlords, tenants, housing providers, and background-screening processes that rely on public eviction records. The bill would also require clerks to review existing eligible eviction records and seal them within 90 days of the law’s effective date.
Sentiment
Because the bill was only introduced and there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes, there is no documented debate or formal sentiment in the available materials. Based on the bill’s purpose, it appears aimed at providing relief to tenants by reducing the long-term housing consequences of eviction filings, but no opposition or support is reflected in the provided record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available committee materials or voting history. Potential areas of disagreement, based on the bill’s subject matter, could include whether automatic sealing should apply to all eviction records, how the rule would affect landlords’ access to rental history, and whether the three-year period is the appropriate balance between tenant rehabilitation and public record access.
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