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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio HB 544 makes obstructing a federal immigration arrest a third-degree felony
Last action · October 29, 2025: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Josh Williams and 5 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 544 increases penalties for obstructing justice when the underlying action involves preventing or obstructing an arrest or detention by a federal law enforcement agency engaged in immigration enforcement, classifying it as a third-degree felony.
The measure alters criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with law enforcement operations, establishing harsher sentencing tiers specifically for obstructing federal immigration arrests compared to other local, state, or federal agency arrests.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Individuals who obstruct justice
Individuals face stricter sentencing tiers and higher felony classifications if they interfere with federal immigration arrests or specific high-level crimes.
Law enforcement agencies
Agencies experience modified legal protections and enforcement backing when conducting arrests and detentions.
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
What is the penalty for obstructing a federal immigration arrest under this bill?
Does the person being helped need to be convicted for someone to be charged with obstructing justice?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Oct 29, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Judiciary
- Oct 22, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →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 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Differentiated penalties for immigration enforcement obstruction
The bill explicitly separates obstruction of federal immigration enforcement into a harsher felony category compared to obstruction of other local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy70Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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