Ohio HB 505 requires crowdfunding platforms to register, ban unlawful fundraising, and…

What This Bill Would Do

s operating in Ohio must register annually with the Attorney General, pay a $5,000 fee, ban campaigns raising funds for violent offenses or unlawful acts, and submit annual reports detailing campaigns raising over $10,000. Platforms violating the prohibited use rules face $10,000 administrative penalties, and the Attorney General gains investigative and subpoena powers.

Why it matters

Online fundraising websites operating in the state face new legal requirements, mandatory compliance reporting, and financial penalties for hosting campaigns that support illegal acts or offenses of violence.

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

Crowdfunding platforms

Platforms must register annually, pay a $5,000 fee, update terms of service, maintain records for three years, and submit annual compliance reports.

Directly affected

Crowdfunding organizers

Organizers are prohibited from using funds for offenses of violence or unlawful acts and must return withdrawn funds if their campaign is terminated.

Directly affected

Office of the Attorney General

The office is tasked with receiving registrations and annual reports, conducting investigations, issuing subpoenas, and assessing penalties.

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 a crowdfunding platform need to do before operating in Ohio under this bill?

Platforms must register with the Attorney General in writing, pay an annual $5,000 application fee, and include terms of service that prohibit fundraising for violent offenses or illegal acts.

What happens if a crowdfunding campaign violates the rules against supporting illegal acts?

The platform must terminate the campaign, the organizer must return withdrawn funds, the platform must help facilitate refunds to donors, and the platform faces a $10,000 administrative penalty from the Attorney General.

What information must crowdfunding platforms report annually?

Platforms must report the number of campaigns created by state residents that raised over $10,000, total amounts donated and withdrawn, the number of campaigns terminated for noncompliance, reasons for termination, and total amounts refunded.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

3 actions

Jun 9, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported - Substitute (Technology and Innovation)
Oct 15, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Technology and Innovation
Oct 7, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history & redline

2 versions on file

Comparing As Introduced → As Reported by the House Technology and Innovation Committee

removed addedOfficial text

hb505_00_IN hb505_01_RH As Introduced Reported by the House Technology and Innovation Committee 136th General Assembly Regular Session Sub. H. B. No. 505 2025-2026 Representatives Odioso, Abrams To enact sections 1349.07, 1349.071, 1349.072, 1349.073, 1349.074, 1349.075, 1349.076, 1716.30, 1716.301, 1716.302, 1716.303, 1716.304, 1716.305, 1716.306, 1716.307, 1716.308, and 1349.08 1716.309 of the Revised Code to restrict prohibit the use of funds collected through crowdfunding for fraudulent or misleading purposes other than those solicited. and to require crowdfunding platforms to register with the Attorney General. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. That sections 1349.07, 1349.071, 1349.072, 1349.073, 1349.074, 1349.075, 1349.076, 1716.30, 1716.301, 1716.302, 1716.303, 1716.304, 1716.305, 1716.306, 1716.307, 1716.308, and 1349.08 1716.309 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: Sec. 1349.07. 1716.30. As used in sections 1349.07 1716.30 to 1349.08 1716.309 of the Revised Code: (A) "Crowdfunding" means the practice of obtaining funding by soliciting and receiving donated funds or virtual currency from individuals, organizations, […] obtaining funding by soliciting funds to develop a product or service, or in exchange for future delivery of, or access to, that product or service. service; (4) The practice of soliciting or obtaining funds for the benefit of a political campaign, political candidate, or political action committee; (5) The practice of soliciting or obtaining funds for the benefit of a charitable organization or charitable purpose. (B) "Crowdfunding organizer" means any individual or entity that conducts a crowdfunding solicitation. (C) "Crowdfunding platform" means any publicly available web site, software application, or online service, service specifically designed or money transmitter through which offered for use by a crowdfunding organizer solicits and receives to solicit or receive donated funds through crowdfunding. funds. Sec. 1349.071. 1716.301. Every crowdfunding platform shall include in its terms of service both of the following provisions: (A) A a prohibition against crowdfunding organizers using funds raised via crowdfunding for any either of the following: (1) Any purpose other than the purpose specified when soliciting or campaigning to obtain the funds; (2) (A) Promoting or supporting acts an offense of violence; (3) An unlawful purpose. (B) A requirement that a crowdfunding organizer do both violence, as defined by section 2901.01 of the following if it possesses excess donated funds or virtual currency after Revised Code; (B) An act prohibited by the stated purpose laws of the crowdfunding campaign has been realized: (1) Sell or convert any virtual currency to United States dollars; (2) Remit all excess funds to the donors for the crowdfunding campaign in amounts proportional to the donors' respective donations. this state. Sec. 1349.072. 1716.302. (A) A crowdfunding platform shall terminate a campaign for a violation under division (A) or (B) of section 1349.071 1716.301 of the Revised Code. (B) If a crowdfunding platform terminates a campaign, campaign for a violation of section 1716.301 of the Revised Code, the crowdfunding organizer or beneficiary, as applicable, shall return any withdrawn funds to the payment service provider. (C) A crowdfunding platform shall use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the refund or remit of the funds as described in accordance with division (B) of section 1349.071 of this section, including by providing operational support to the Revised Code crowdfunding organizer or beneficiary to refund such funds to donors in amounts equal to the donors' respective donations. Sec. 1716.303. Crowdfunding platforms shall keep complete and section 1349.073 accurate records of all facts and circumstances surrounding the Revised Code. Sec. 1349.073. If fundraising and disposition of those funds remitted and virtual currency for at least three years. Sec. 1716.304. On or before the thirty-first day of January each year and beginning in the second calendar year following the effective date of this section, every crowdfunding platform operating in this state shall submit to the charitable law section of the office of the attorney general a donor under division report that contains all of the following information with respect to the prior calendar year: (A) The number of crowdfunding campaigns that were created by an individual in this state and that raised over ten thousand dollars through the platform; (B) The total dollar amount donated for all such crowdfunding campaigns; (C) The total dollar amount withdrawn for use by all crowdfunding campaigns; (D) The number of crowdfunding campaigns terminated by the crowdfunding platform for noncompliance with the requirements of section 1349.071 1716.301 of the Revised Code or section 1349.072 Code; (E) The reason for which each crowdfunding campaign was terminated by the crowdfunding platform; (F) The total dollar amount refunded to donors for terminated crowdfunding campaigns. Sec. 1716.305. (A) No crowdfunding platform shall engage in any crowdfunding unless it has complied with the requirements of sections 1716.30 to 1716.309 of the Revised Code are unable to be delivered to that donor, and any rules adopted in accordance with those sections. (B)(1) Every crowdfunding platform, before facilitating any crowdfunding on and after the following apply: (A) If effective date of this section, shall register with the donor's name attorney general. (2) Applications for registration or renewal of registration shall be in writing, under oath, and personal information are known, in the funds form prescribed by the attorney general. (3)(a) Each application shall be paid to accompanied by a fee in the director amount of commerce, five thousand dollars. (b)(i) Any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity that intends to be deposited act as unclaimed funds into the unclaimed funds trust fund created under a crowdfunding platform may register for and pay a single fee of five thousand dollars on behalf of all its members, officers, employees, and agents. (ii) In that case, except as provided in section 169.05 1716.306 of the Revised Code. (B) If Code, the donation was made anonymously names and addresses of all the donor's identity cannot be ascertained, corporate officers of the crowdfunding organizer platform shall pay be listed in the funds application or furnished to the attorney general. (4) The application shall contain any other information that the attorney general may require. (C) The registration shall be for deposit a period of one year or part of one year and expires on the thirty-first day of March each year. Upon application and payment of the fee specified in this section, the registration may be renewed for additional one-year periods. (D) All fees prescribed in this section shall be paid into the crime victims recovery state treasury to the credit of the charitable law fund created established under section 2929.32 109.32 of the Revised Code. Sec. 1349.074. Crowdfunding 1716.306. The attorney general may exchange any information with respect to crowdfunding organizers or crowdfunding platforms shall keep complete and accurate records with the appropriate authority of any other state or of the United States. The attorney general may accept any information filed by a crowdfunding platform with the appropriate authority of another state or of the United States in lieu of the information that the crowdfunding platform is required to file pursuant to sections 1716.30 to 1716.309 of the Revised Code if the information substantially meets all facts and circumstances surrounding of the fundraising and disposition requirements of those funds and virtual currency for at least three years. sections 1716.30 to 1716.309 of the Revised Code. Sec. 1349.075. 1716.307. The attorney general may adopt such reasonable rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as may be necessary to implement sections 1716.30 to 1716.309 of the Revised Code. Sec. 1716.308. (A) If, by the attorney general's own inquiries or as a result of complaints, the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a crowdfunding platform has violated section 1349.071 1716.301 of the Revised Code or has failed to comply with section 1716.302 or 1716.305 of the Revised Code, the attorney general may investigate. (B) In any investigation conducted pursuant to this section, the attorney general may administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, adduce evidence, and subpoena the production of any book, document, record, or other relevant matter. (C) If the attorney general under division (B) of this section 1349.076 of the Revised Code subpoenas the production of any relevant matter that is located outside this state, the attorney general may designate a representative, including an official of […] out similar requests received from officials of other states. (D) Any person who is subpoenaed to produce relevant matter pursuant to division (B) of this section 1349.076 of the Revised Code shall make that relevant matter available at a convenient location within this state or the state of the representative designated under division (C) of this section. (E) Any person who is subpoenaed as a witness or to produce relevant matter pursuant to division (B) of this section 1349.076 of the Revised Code may file in the court of common pleas of Franklin county, the county in this state in which the person resides, or the county […] the subpoena, whichever is earlier. (F) Any person who is subpoenaed as a witness or to produce relevant matter pursuant to division (B) of this section 1349.076 of the Revised Code shall comply with the terms of the subpoena unless the court orders otherwise prior to the date specified for the return of the subpoena […] the requested discovery; (2) Adjudges the person in contempt of court; (3) Grants injunctive relief to restrain the person from failing to comply with sections 1349.071 and 1349.073 section 1716.301 of the Revised Code; (4) Grants other relief that may be required until the person obeys the subpoena. Sec. 1349.076. 1716.309. (A) The attorney general shall impose on a crowdfunding platform an administrative penalty of ten thousand dollars for each time the platform violates section 1349.071 1716.301 of the Revised Code. (B) The attorney general may bring a civil action in a court of common pleas for appropriate relief under this section, including a temporary restraining order and preliminary or permanent injunction, for violations of section 1349.071 1716.301 of the Revised Code. If a crowdfunding platform has violated that section more than once in a two-year period, the attorney general may seek a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars per violation in addition to the administrative penalties imposed by division (A) of this section. (C) The attorney general may bring a civil action in a court of common pleas for appropriate relief under this section, including a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, and a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars for failure to comply with section 1716.305 of the Revised Code. (D) Any penalty collected that was imposed under this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the charitable law fund established under section 109.32 of the Revised Code. Sec. 1349.08. On or before the thirty-first day of January each year and beginning in the second calendar year following the effective date of this section, every crowdfunding platform operating in this state shall submit to the consumer protection section of the office of the attorney general a report that contains all of the following information with respect to the prior calendar year: (A) The number of crowdfunding campaigns that were initiated through the platform; (B) The total dollar amount received for all crowdfunding campaigns; (C) The total dollar amount withdrawn for use by all crowdfunding campaigns; (D) The number of crowdfunding campaigns terminated by the crowdfunding platform for noncompliance with the crowdfunding platform's terms of service; (E) The reason for which each crowdfunding campaign was terminated by the crowdfunding platform; (F) The total dollar amount refunded to donors for terminated crowdfunding campaigns; (G) The total dollar amount from terminated crowdfunding campaigns deposited into the unclaimed funds trust fund created under section 169.05 of the Revised Code; (H) The total dollar amount deposited into the crime victims recovery fund created under section 2929.32 of the Revised Code from terminated crowdfunding campaigns; (I) The percentage of funds collected through the crowdfunding platform that were paid to the intended recipient or utilized for the intended purpose.

Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

Voting Record

Motion succeededHouse6/9/2026Ohio LegislatureOfficial roll call ↗

Favorable Passage

Total

13

Yes: 13
No: 0
Present: 0
Not voting: 0
Abstain: 0

How they voted (9)

Lauren McNallyParty not recordedyes

Kellie DeeterParty not recordedyes

Adam MathewsParty not recordedyes

Melanie MillerParty not recordedyes

David ThomasParty not recordedyes

Michele GrimParty not recordedyes

Monica Robb BlasdelParty not recordedyes

Haraz GhanbariParty not recordedyes

Mark HinerParty not recordedyes

Full roll-call analysis →

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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Introduction of State Oversight for Crowdfunding

The legislation extends direct state regulatory oversight, mandatory registration, and annual reporting requirements onto online crowdfunding platforms.

Attorney General Charitable Law Fund

Connected Entities

Franklin County, Charitable Law Fund, Mike Odioso and 2 more

locationFranklin County“Location where a person subpoenaed under the bill may file a petition in the cou”Map →

OrganizationCharitable Law Fund“Receives registration fees and administrative penalties collected under the bill”Map →

PersonMike Odioso“Representative and primary bill sponsor.”Map →

OrganizationAttorney General“Receives annual reports, registrations, and enforces penalties for crowdfunding ”Map →

PersonCindy Abrams“Representative and bill co-sponsor.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legislature.ohio.gov

Ohio HB 505 requires crowdfunding platforms to register, ban unlawful fundraising, and report annual campaign data

What This Bill Would Do

Who It Would Affect

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history & redline

Voting Record

Lobbying Activity

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Introduction of State Oversight for Crowdfunding

Connected Entities

Sources

Analysis Score

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