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Ohio HB 472 waives fees for IDs and vital records for individuals experiencing homelessness and establishes voter photo ID rules for mail-in ballots
Original title: Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals
Last action · June 25, 2026: Veto receiptSponsors: Christine Cockley and 40 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Proposed
This legislation requires photo identification to cast by mail starting with the November 2, 2027 general election, introduces a secure online portal for absentee ballot applications, and waives fees for state identification cards, birth certificates, marriage abstracts, and name change records for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Why it matters
The measure impacts mail-in voters by altering ID verification rules and creates new administrative processes for county boards of elections while eliminating state and local fees for vital records and identification documents for qualifying individuals experiencing homelessness.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Individuals experiencing homelessness
Individuals experiencing homelessness are eligible for fee waivers on state identification cards, birth certificates, and certain court records, and may store personal documents securely at participating shelters.
Directly affected
County boards of elections
County boards of elections must process new photo identification requirements for mail-in ballots, manage secure ballot drop receptacles with video monitoring, and process applications submitted via the online portal.
Directly affected
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State must establish and maintain a secure online portal for absent voter ballot applications and prescribe new affidavit and application forms.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are homeless individuals required to pay for birth certificates or state ID cards?
No. The act waives fees for state identification cards, birth certificates, and certain court records for individuals experiencing homelessness once every twelve months when verified by an eligible agency or official.
Where can an individual obtain a free copy of photo identification for voting purposes?
Upon request, free copies of photo identification for casting by mail are provided by the Secretary of State, a board of elections, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, or a public library.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Coverage by outlet perspective1 article
Unrated 1
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Vetoed by the governor.
Procedural history
11 actions- Jun 25, 2026HouseVeto receipt
- Jun 12, 2026EnrolledSent To The Governor
- Jun 10, 2026SenateCommitteeReported - Substitute (General Government)
- Jun 10, 2026SenateFloorPassed
- Jun 10, 2026HouseFloorConcurred in Senate amendments
- Mar 4, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to General Government
Show 5 earlier actions
- Feb 23, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced
- Feb 18, 2026HouseFloorPassed
- Nov 19, 2025HouseCommitteeReported - Substitute (Children and Human Services)
- Oct 1, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Children and Human Services
- Sep 29, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history & redline
7 versions on fileComparing As Concurred by the House → As Enrolled
removed addedOfficial text
removed: hb472_05_CH
As Concurred by the House
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session Sub. H. B. No. 472
2025-2026
Representative Salvo
Cosponsors: Representatives
Williams, White, A., Odioso, Robb Blasdel, Click, Ray, Deeter, Gross,
Hall, D., Willis, Young
Senators Gavarone, Huffman,
Brenner, Cirino, Cutrona, Johnson, O'Brien, Reineke, Reynolds,
Roegner, Schaffer, Timken, Wilson
To
amend sections 111.31, 2101.16, 2303.20, 3109.14, 3333.31,
3375.011,
3501.01, 3503.02,
3503.13, 3503.153,
3503.16, 3505.19, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.051, 3509.06,
3509.07, 3509.08, 3509.10, 3511.011, 3511.02, 3511.021, 3705.24,
3705.242, 4507.01, 4507.50, 4507.51, and 4507.52; to amend, for the
purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses,
section 3511.011 (3511.01); to enact sections 9.011, 2101.166,
2303.202, 3509.031, 3509.032,
3509.11,
3705.243, and 3705.50; and to repeal section 3511.01 of the Revised
Code to
require photo identification to cast absent voter's ballots, with
certain exceptions, to allow electors to apply for those ballots
through a secure online portal, and to waive fees for an
identification card or vital statistics record and permit the storage
of documents for individuals experiencing homelessness.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1. That
sections 111.31, 2101.16, 2303.20, 3109.14, 3333.31,
3375.011,
3501.01, 3503.02,
3503.13, 3503.153,
3503.16, 3505.19, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.051, 3509.06,
3509.07, 3509.08, 3509.10, 3511.011, 3511.02, 3511.021, 3705.24,
3705.242, 4507.01, 4507.50, 4507.51, and 4507.52 be amended; section
3511.011 (3511.01) be amended for the purpose of adopting a new
section number as indicated in parentheses; and sections 9.011,
2101.166, 2303.202, 3509.031, 3509.032,
3509.11,
3705.243, and 3705.50 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec.
9.011. (A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Homeless shelter" has the same meaning as in section
2151.422 of the 193,223 more removed characters - read the previous versionadded: hb472_06_EN
(136th General Assembly)
(Substitute
House Bill Number 472)
AN
ACT
To amend sections 111.31,
2101.16, 2303.20, 3109.14, 3333.31, 3375.011, 3501.01, 3503.02,
3503.13, 3503.153, 3503.16, 3505.19, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05,
3509.051, 3509.06, 3509.07, 3509.08, 3509.10, 3511.011, 3511.02,
3511.021, 3705.24, 3705.242, 4507.01, 4507.50, 4507.51, and 4507.52;
to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as
indicated in parentheses, section 3511.011 (3511.01); to enact
sections 9.011, 2101.166, 2303.202, 3509.031, 3509.032, 3509.11,
3705.243, and 3705.50; and to repeal section 3511.01 of the Revised
Code to require photo identification to cast absent voter's ballots,
with certain exceptions, to allow electors to apply for those ballots
through a secure online portal, and to waive fees for an
identification card or vital statistics record and permit the storage
of documents for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Be
it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
Section
1. That
sections 111.31, 2101.16, 2303.20, 3109.14, 3333.31,
3375.011,
3501.01, 3503.02,
3503.13, 3503.153,
3503.16, 3505.19, 3509.03, 3509.04, 3509.05, 3509.051, 3509.06,
3509.07, 3509.08, 3509.10, 3511.011, 3511.02, 3511.021, 3705.24,
3705.242, 4507.01, 4507.50, 4507.51, and 4507.52 be amended; section
3511.011 (3511.01) be amended for the purpose of adopting a new
section number as indicated in parentheses; and sections 9.011,
2101.166, 2303.202, 3509.031, 3509.032,
3509.11,
3705.243, and 3705.50 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec.
9.011. (A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Homeless shelter" has the same meaning as in section
2151.422 of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Individual experiencing homelessness" has the same meaning
as in section 3705.243 of the Revised Code.
(3)
"Nonprofit agency providing case management services to
individuals experiencing homelessness" does not include any
governmental agency.
(B)
A homeless shelter or nonprofit 193,472 more added characters - read this version
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Passed
Total
13
- Yes
- 13
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (98)
Johnathan NewmanParty not recordedyes
Erika WhiteParty not recordedno
Diane MullinsParty not recordedyes
Elgin RogersParty not recordedno
Adam MathewsParty not recordedyes
Veronica SimsParty not recordedno
Cecil ThomasParty not recordedno
Tracy RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Ashley Bryant BaileyParty not recordedno
Jennifer GrossParty not recordedyes
Jeff LaReParty not recordedyes
Riordan McClainParty not recordedyes
Meredith CraigParty not recordedyes
Anita SomaniParty not recordedno
Cindy AbramsParty not recordedyes
Scott OelslagerParty not recordedyes
Angela N. KingParty not recordedyes
Matthew KishmanParty not recordedyes
Phil PlummerParty not recordedyes
Latyna HumphreyParty not recordedno
Mike OdiosoParty not recordedyes
Mark HinerParty not recordedyes
Ismail MohamedParty not recordedno
Meredith R. Lawson-RoweParty not recordedno
74 more members
Terrence UpchurchParty not recordedno
Desireè TimsParty not recordedno
Karen BrownleeParty not recordedno
Tex FischerParty not recordedyes
Dani IsaacsohnParty not recordedno
Gary ClickParty not recordedyes
Steve DemetriouParty not recordedyes
Eric SynenbergParty not recordedno
Ty MathewsParty not recordedyes
Matt HuffmanParty not recordedyes
Heidi WorkmanParty not recordedyes
Jason StephensParty not recordedno
David ThomasParty not recordedyes
Jim ThomasParty not recordedyes
Jack DanielsParty not recordedyes
Michael D. DovillaParty not recordedyes
Michele GrimParty not recordedno
Joseph A. Miller, IIIParty not recordedno
Sharon A. RayParty not recordedno
Allison RussoParty not recordedno
Daniel P. TroyParty not recordedno
Roy KlopfensteinParty not recordedyes
Lauren McNallyParty not recordedno
Brian LorenzParty not recordedyes
Chris GlassburnParty not recordedno
Tim BarhorstParty not recordedyes
Mark JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Kevin MillerParty not recordedyes
Darnell BrewerParty not recordedno
D.J. SwearingenParty not recordedyes
Sean BrennanParty not recordedno
Monica Robb BlasdelParty not recordedyes
Mark SigristParty not recordedno
Tom YoungParty not recordedyes
Jean SchmidtParty not recordedyes
Jamie CallenderParty not recordedyes
Thaddeus J. ClaggettParty not recordedyes
Levi DeanParty not recordedyes
Crystal LettParty not recordedno
Gayle ManningParty not recordedno
Justin PizzulliParty not recordedyes
Rodney CreechParty not recordedyes
Bill RoemerParty not recordedyes
Nick SantucciParty not recordedyes
Sarah Fowler ArthurParty not recordedyes
Bride Rose SweeneyParty not recordedno
Josh WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Marilyn JohnParty not recordedyes
Kellie DeeterParty not recordedyes
Andrea WhiteParty not recordedno
Brian StewartParty not recordedyes
Brian LamptonParty not recordedyes
Christine CockleyParty not recordedno
Adam BirdParty not recordedyes
Michelle TeskaParty not recordedyes
%20(1)_edited.jpg){kind=small}
Tristan RaderParty not recordedno
Adam HolmesParty not recordedyes
Thomas HallParty not recordedyes
James M. HoopsParty not recordedyes
Dontavius JarrellsParty not recordedno
Juanita BrentParty not recordedno
Phillip M. Robinson, Jr.Party not recordedno
Jodi SalvoParty not recordedyes
Ron FergusonParty not recordedyes
Rachel BakerParty not recordedno
Melanie MillerParty not recordedyes
Kevin RitterParty not recordedyes
Bernard WillisParty not recordedyes
Ty MooreParty not recordedyes
Haraz GhanbariParty not recordedno
Beth LearParty not recordedyes
Munira AbdullahiParty not recordedno
Bob PetersonParty not recordedyes
Beryl PiccolantonioParty not recordedno
Show 4 earlier roll calls
Passed
Total
33
- Yes
- 33
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (32)
Al CutronaParty not recordedyes
Jerry CirinoParty not recordedyes
Terry JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Al LandisParty not recordedyes
Hearcel CraigParty not recordedno
Theresa GavaroneParty not recordedyes
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Andrew BrennerParty not recordedyes
Tim SchafferParty not recordedyes
Thomas PattonParty not recordedyes
Nickie AntonioParty not recordedno
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
George LangParty not recordedyes
Casey WeinsteinParty not recordedno
Stephen A. HuffmanParty not recordedyes
Nathan H. ManningParty not recordedyes
Willis BlackshearParty not recordedno
Jane TimkenParty not recordedyes
Steve WilsonParty not recordedyes
William P. DeMoraParty not recordedno
Shane WilkinParty not recordedyes
Beth ListonParty not recordedno
Susan ManchesterParty not recordedyes
Kent SmithParty not recordedno
Favorable Passage
Total
33
- Yes
- 33
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Favorable Passage
Total
13
- Yes
- 12
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (13)
Bill RoemerParty not recordedyes
Beth LearParty not recordedyes
Daniel P. TroyParty not recordedyes
Gary ClickParty not recordedyes
David ThomasParty not recordedyes
Jim ThomasParty not recordedyes
Mark SigristParty not recordedyes
Tracy RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Steve DemetriouParty not recordedyes
Chris GlassburnParty not recordedyes
Elgin RogersParty not recordedno
Jack DanielsParty not recordedyes
Nick SantucciParty not recordedyes
Favorable Passage
Total
12
- Yes
- 12
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (12)
Darnell BrewerParty not recordedyes
Sharon A. RayParty not recordedyes
Mike OdiosoParty not recordedyes
Kellie DeeterParty not recordedyes
Andrea WhiteParty not recordedyes
Sarah Fowler ArthurParty not recordedyes
Ashley Bryant BaileyParty not recordedyes
Melanie MillerParty not recordedyes
Jodi SalvoParty not recordedyes
Gary ClickParty not recordedyes
Crystal LettParty not recordedyes
Karen BrownleeParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 36 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift99% confidence
Introduction of Mandatory Photo ID for Mail-In Ballots
The legislation transitions Ohio mail-in voting requirements from number-based verification to mandatory photo identification submission or verified alternative exemptions.
Connected Entities
OrganizationSecretary of State“State official responsible for administering elections and maintaining the secur”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Health“State agency receiving annual reports on fee waivers for vital statistics record”Map →
OrganizationBureau of Motor Vehicles“State bureau issuing driver's licenses and state identification cards”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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