The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio House Bill 548 requires mandatory alcohol and drug testing for peace and corrections officers after use-of-force incidents
Last action · October 29, 2025: Referred to Public SafetySponsors: Darnell Brewer and 4 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 548 requires peace officers and corrections officers to submit to a chemical test for alcohol and drugs within three hours of any use-of-force incident that results in serious physical harm or death. If the test indicates a of alcohol or substances, the employer must report the results to prosecutors and the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and take corrective or disciplinary action.
Changes post-incident accountability protocols for law enforcement and corrections officers in Ohio by mandating chemical testing after serious use-of-force events, overriding conflicting collective bargaining agreements.
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.
peace officers
Peace officers must submit to chemical testing within three hours of a use-of-force incident resulting in serious harm or death and face disciplinary action for refusal or positive results.
corrections officers
Corrections officers are subject to mandatory chemical testing after use-of-force incidents in detention facilities and face disciplinary measures for non-compliance.
public employers
Public employers must report positive chemical test results to prosecutors and investigative bureaus and execute appropriate corrective or disciplinary actions.
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
Which officers are required to take a chemical test under this bill?
What is the timeline for administering the chemical test?
What happens if an officer tests positive for a prescribed medication?
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 Public Safety
- 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Collective Bargaining Override
The legislation explicitly amends section 4117.10 to ensure that mandatory officer chemical testing requirements prevail over conflicting collective bargaining agreements.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment15Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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