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HB 490OHIOSession 136State Billin committee

High Impact

Ohio HB 490 expands postconviction relief eligibility for felony offenders based on DNA testing showing actual innocence

Original title: Expand postconviction relief re:DNA test showing actual innocence

Last action · October 8, 2025: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Jean Schmidt and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Ohio HB 490 amends state law to explicitly allow individuals convicted of felony offenses to file petitions based on that establishes actual innocence by clear and convincing evidence. The bill defines qualifying DNA testing and actual innocence standards within sections 2953.21 and 2953.23 of the Revised Code.

Why it matters

Expands legal avenues for individuals convicted of felonies to challenge their convictions using DNA evidence, altering the postconviction petition process for those claiming actual innocence.

Background

Ohio law governs postconviction relief procedures and DNA testing petitions under sections 2953.21 and 2953.23 of the Revised Code. context

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.

Directly affected

felony offenders

Offenders convicted of felonies gain explicit statutory grounds to file postconviction relief petitions using qualifying DNA testing results showing actual innocence.

Directly affected

prosecuting attorneys

County prosecutors are required to respond to petitions, manage discovery requests, and participate in proceedings related to postconviction relief claims.

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

Who is eligible to file a postconviction relief petition under the new DNA testing provisions?

Any person convicted of a felony offense whose petition is based on that provides results establishing actual innocence by clear and convincing evidence.

What constitutes qualifying DNA testing under the bill?

DNA testing performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code, former section 2953.82, or testing performed on or after the effective date at the request or on behalf of the state or prosecuting attorney.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Oct 8, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Judiciary
Oct 1, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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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.

Connected Entities

United States, Ohio

locationUnited States“Mentioned in relation to the U.S. Constitution.”Map →

locationOhio“Jurisdiction passing the legislation.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legislature.ohio.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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