To amend sections 4112.01 and 4112.05 of the Revised Code to enact the Ohio Fairness Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, to add mediation as an informal method that the Ohio Civil Rights Commission may use, and to uphold existing religious exemptions under Ohio's Civil Rights Law.
SB70 would enact the Ohio Fairness Act by amending Ohio’s civil rights law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. The bill adds those categories to the state’s definition of sex discrimination, making clear that protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations extend to LGBTQ+ Ohioans under Chapter 4112 of the Revised Code. It also updates the Ohio Civil Rights Commission’s enforcement process by expressly allowing mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods as part of the informal resolution stage.
The bill further revises procedures for filing, investigating, and resolving discrimination charges, including timelines, confidentiality rules, hearing procedures, and remedies. For violations involving the newly covered protections, the commission could order cease-and-desist relief, affirmative corrective action, remediation training, actual damages, attorney’s fees, and civil penalties that increase for repeat violations. The bill also states that it preserves existing religious exemptions under Ohio civil rights law, indicating that the new protections are intended to operate alongside current statutory religious carveouts rather than eliminate them.
SB70 would directly amend sections 4112.01 and 4112.05 of the Revised Code and repeal the prior versions of those sections. Its practical effect would be to expand Ohio’s anti-discrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, while also giving the Ohio Civil Rights Commission additional informal dispute-resolution tools and clarifying enforcement procedures and remedies. Employers, housing providers, public accommodations, and other covered entities would be subject to the expanded protections, and the commission would have a more detailed process for handling related complaints.
The bill’s stated purpose and sponsorship suggest strong support among its backers for extending civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ people, and the inclusion of cosponsors indicates an organized effort in favor of the measure. The text also reflects an attempt to address concerns from opponents or undecided lawmakers by expressly preserving existing religious exemptions and by adding mediation as a less adversarial enforcement option. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee sentiment beyond the bill’s framing and sponsorship.
The main point of contention is likely the expansion of protected classes to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, which has historically drawn debate over religious liberty, employer obligations, and the scope of public-accommodation and housing protections. SB70 anticipates that concern by stating that it upholds existing religious exemptions under Ohio law, suggesting supporters want to reassure religious organizations and others that current exemptions remain intact. Another likely area of debate is enforcement: while the bill strengthens remedies for violations, it also adds mediation and alternative dispute resolution, which may be seen either as a compromise or as insufficient depending on the stakeholder.