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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio bill creates NextGen Public Safety Pilot Program to fund license plate readers, drones, and surveillance cameras in Lucas County and Toledo
Last action · May 13, 2026: Referred to FinanceSponsor: Josh Williams
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What This Bill Would Do
The Ohio General Assembly is considering a bill to establish the two-year NextGen Public Safety Pilot Program, appropriating $3.75 million in 2026 and $3.25 million in fiscal year 2027 to support modern public safety technologies in Lucas County and the City of Toledo. The measure authorizes grant funding for license plate readers, public safety drones, and stationary surveillance camera networks, while establishing reductions if grant recipients fail to meet expansion terms. Additionally, it offers a one-time $500,000 grant for major metropolitan cities that enact commercial security camera ordinances.
Local governments in Lucas County and Toledo stand to receive millions in state grants for surveillance and security technology, but face reductions in their payments if they do not increase their equipment counts by 25% within one year of receiving the final grant award.
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.
Lucas County
Lucas County is eligible to receive state grant funding for license plate readers and is subject to local government fund reductions if equipment expansion goals are not met.
City of Toledo
The City of Toledo is eligible for multi-million dollar grants for license plate readers, drones, and surveillance camera networks, and faces local government fund reductions for noncompliance.
Commercial businesses in Lucas County
Commercial businesses may become subject to local municipal ordinances requiring the installation of 4K security cameras with 30-day retention policies.
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 happens if Lucas County or Toledo receives grant money but fails to increase its license plate readers?
What are the requirements for commercial businesses if a city enacts the optional security camera ordinance?
How much total funding is appropriated for the pilot program in fiscal years 2026 and 2027?
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- May 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Finance
- Apr 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
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.
Local Government Fund Penalties Tied to Grant Compliance
The bill links receipt of technology grants directly to local government fund disbursements, allowing the state to claw back funds through tax commissioner adjustments if equipment expansion targets are missed.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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