Ohio HB 1009 regulates automated license plate readers and mass surveillance technology

Original title: Enact the Stop Flock Abuse Act

Last action · September 14, 2026: IntroducedSponsors: Johnathan Newman and 11 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Ohio HB 1009 prohibits government entities and private persons from accessing, collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing automated license plate recognition data and mass surveillance data, subject to specific exceptions for law enforcement, normal business operations, warrants, toll collection, and traffic cameras.

Why it matters

The measure establishes criminal penalties up to a fifth-degree felony for unauthorized handling or misuse of surveillance data by private individuals or peace officers, restricting how location and tracking data are stored and shared across public and private sectors.

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

Law enforcement agencies

Law enforcement agencies and peace officers are permitted to access, collect, use, transfer, or share captured surveillance data in the course of their law enforcement activities.

Directly affected

Private persons

Private individuals and commercial entities are prohibited from knowingly accessing, collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing captured surveillance data unless an exception applies.

Directly affected

Government entities

State agencies, public institutions, and political subdivisions are barred from knowingly accessing, collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing captured surveillance data outside of permitted exemptions.

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 does the bill consider mass surveillance technology?

Any technology or device designed primarily to monitor, record, capture, or analyze the movements, activities, associations, or identifying characteristics of an individual in public spaces, including cameras, sensors, biometric identification systems, facial recognition systems, and gait recognition systems.

Are toll road cameras affected by this prohibition?

Toll collection cameras operated by the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission or other toll operators are exempt, provided the cameras are used solely for billing users, comply with applicable toll statutes, and are not integrated with law enforcement databases without a warrant.

What are the penalties for violating the restrictions?

Whoever violates division (A) or (D) of section 5507.02 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Procedural history

1 action

Sep 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
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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