To enact section 149.61 of the Revised Code regarding the provision of personal data to out-of-state entities and to name this act the Ohio Privacy Act.
Summary
HB801, titled the Ohio Privacy Act, would add a new section to the Revised Code restricting how Ohio state agencies collect, use, and disclose private information. The bill requires agencies to collect only the private information necessary to perform their duties, and it specifically prohibits collecting information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status unless required by state or federal law. It also limits disclosure of private information to uses directly connected to administering agency programs, while allowing disclosure in narrower circumstances such as with individual consent, a warrant, a court order, or a subpoena.
The bill also creates transparency and enforcement requirements. State agencies would have to post active information-sharing agreements on their websites, including the type of information shared, the recipient, and the purpose of the agreement. Agencies could share deidentified, aggregated data when doing so would help administer a public service and comply with federal law. If a request appears to support a prohibited activity, the agency must refer it to the attorney general for review. The bill creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations and sets statutory damages for different kinds of violations, with additional damages available for intentional or willful misconduct.
Impact
HB801 would impose new statewide limits on the collection and disclosure of private information by state agencies, creating a new statutory privacy framework in Chapter 149 of the Revised Code. It would affect state agencies and any entities receiving private information from them, requiring tighter data-minimization practices, restrictions on secondary use and further sharing, public posting of information-sharing agreements, and potential civil liability for violations. The bill would also establish a formal attorney general review process for questionable requests and provide remedies for affected individuals.
Sentiment
Because the bill has only been introduced and has no recorded votes or committee testimony in the provided materials, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to measure. The bill’s sponsorship and broad list of cosponsors suggest support among lawmakers concerned with privacy and limits on government data sharing, but the available record does not show any formal opposition or amendment debate. Overall, the bill appears framed as a privacy-protection measure rather than a partisan or budget-driven proposal.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s restrictions on state data collection and sharing, especially the ban on collecting citizenship or immigration status information unless required by law, and the limits on disclosure to out-of-state entities or other third parties. Another likely area of debate is the private right of action and statutory damages, which could expose agencies and their partners to litigation and financial liability. Supporters are likely to emphasize privacy, transparency, and protection from government overreach, while critics may focus on administrative burden, law-enforcement or program-administration concerns, and the possibility that the bill could interfere with data-driven public services.
To amend sections 3517.12, 3517.13, and 3517.155 of the Revised Code to modify the Campaign Finance Law regarding foreign nationals and statewide initiatives and referenda and to declare an emergency.
To amend sections 3517.12, 3517.13, and 3517.155 of the Revised Code to modify the Campaign Finance Law regarding foreign nationals and statewide initiatives and referenda and to declare an emergency.
To amend sections 3505.01 and 3505.10 of the Revised Code to modify the deadline for a political party to certify its nominees for President and Vice-President to the Secretary of State.
To delay the deadline for a major political party to certify its presidential and vice presidential candidates to the Secretary of State for the 2024 general election.