Ohio HB 79 Increases Penalties for Assaulting Sports Officials and Retaliation

Original title: Increase penalty for assault if the victim is a sports official

Last action · February 12, 2025: Referred to JudiciarySponsors: Bill Roemer and 10 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Ohio HB 79 amends sections 2903.13 and 2929.13 of the Revised Code to elevate assault to a fifth-degree felony when the victim is a sports official performing official duties or targeted in retaliation, provided the offender has a prior conviction under these specific circumstances. For first-degree misdemeanor assault convictions involving sports officials, courts must impose a mandatory $1,500 fine and 40 hours of community service.

Why it matters

Changes criminal sentencing guidelines by establishing harsher penalties, mandatory fines, and community service requirements specifically for individuals convicted of assaulting referees, umpires, linespersons, timers, and scorekeepers.

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

sports officials

Receive enhanced legal protections and harsher mandated penalties for offenders who commit assaults against them during or in retaliation for sporting events.

Directly affected

offenders convicted of assaulting sports officials

Face mandatory fines, community service requirements, or felony reclassifications depending on prior convictions and the specific circumstances of the offense.

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 qualifies as a sports official under HB 79?

A sports official is any person who is paid or volunteers to enforce the rules of a sports event as a referee, umpire, linesperson, timer, scorekeeper, or in a similar capacity.

What are the new mandatory penalties for a first-degree misdemeanor assault against a sports official?

The court must impose a mandatory fine of $1,500 and 40 hours of community service.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Judiciary
Feb 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history

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