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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Bill Allows Felony Defendants to Request Indictment by Open Grand Jury
Last action · October 22, 2025: Referred to JudiciarySponsor: Josh Williams
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 527 allows felony defendants in Ohio to request an alternative system of by an open grand jury rather than the traditional , subject to specific state exceptions. The bill amends numerous sections of the Revised Code to establish open grand jury procedures, oaths, and defendant rights during preliminary proceedings.
The measure alters constitutional and procedural rights for felony defendants in the state by providing an option for public transparency in grand jury proceedings, while granting prosecutors the ability to override the open format under specified exigencies such as flight risk or evidence destruction.
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.
felony defendants
Felony defendants gain the right to request an open grand jury proceeding and present evidence or move for discharge during the preliminary phase.
prosecuting attorneys
Prosecutors must present evidence in an open format when requested, unless they establish specific grounds to require a secret grand jury.
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
Can any felony defendant request an open grand jury?
Can the state deny a defendant's request for an open grand jury?
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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 22, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Judiciary
- Oct 15, 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.
Introduction of Public Grand Jury Alternative
The bill creates a statutory mechanism for open grand juries in Ohio, shifting away from the traditional blanket requirement of secret grand jury proceedings for felony indictments upon defendant request.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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