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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio restricts commercial use of automated license plate recognition data
Last action · March 4, 2026: Referred to Public SafetySponsor: Kevin Miller
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 725 prohibits individuals and businesses from knowingly collecting, using, selling, transferring, or sharing data gathered from s for commercial purposes, carrying a first-degree misdemeanor penalty for violations.
Commercial entities and private operators face criminal misdemeanor charges for monetizing or sharing plate-reader data, while law enforcement, insurance providers, and public agencies retain specific exemptions to handle such information.
- Automated license plate recognition systems use high-speed cameras and computer algorithms to capture and log vehicle license plate numbers. context
- The bill was introduced in the 136th General Assembly of Ohio during the 2025-2026 regular session. 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.
Commercial entities
Commercial businesses face misdemeanor charges if they collect, use, sell, transfer, or share automated license plate recognition data outside of permitted exemptions.
Law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agencies and peace officers are explicitly exempted to collect, use, or share automated license plate recognition data during their law enforcement activities.
Insurance providers
Insurance providers are permitted to continue collecting and using automated license plate recognition data in the course of normal business activities.
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 House Bill 725 restrict?
Are insurance companies or private property managers still allowed to use plate reader data?
What is the penalty for violating the commercial ban?
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- Mar 4, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Safety
- Mar 3, 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.
Introduction of Commercial Restrictions on Plate Reader Data
The measure establishes a statutory penalty framework under section 4549.07 to criminalize commercial monetization of automated license plate reader data while maintaining broad carve-outs for government and insurance operations.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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