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Bill Summary · SB 338

Overview

SB 338 (Session 136, Ohio) would require the establishment of the Digital Safety for Children Office within the Ohio Attorney General’s office. The primary purpose is to oversee and monitor online safety concerns affecting children, focusing on potential online safety issues, cyberbullying, and the handling/collection of children’s online data.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a dedicated Digital Safety for Children Office under the Attorney General.
  • Monitor and address online safety risks facing children, with particular attention to cyberbullying and data practices related to children’s online information.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment: The Attorney General must establish the Digital Safety for Children Office.
  • Monitoring responsibilities: The Office shall monitor three areas:
    1. Potential safety issues for children online.
    2. Cyberbullying.
    3. Children’s online data collection.

Who or what would be affected

  • Governmental: The Ohio Attorney General’s Office would house and oversee the new Digital Safety for Children Office.
  • Non-governmental: The bill implies impacts on online platforms, educators, parents, and students by addressing online safety concerns and data collection practices affecting minors, though specific regulatory mechanisms or actions are not detailed in the text provided.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to committee (as of February 11, 2026; initial introduction December 23, 2025).
  • Effective date: The bill text does not specify an explicit effective date beyond enactment language; it indicates that the Office should be established, implying implementation would follow enactment and subsequent administrative steps.
  • Legislative history notes:
    • Co-sponsors: Willis Blackshear, Casey Weinstein, Bill DeMora.
    • Committee referral and potential further actions would follow in the standard Ohio legislative process.

Notable details

  • The bill adds a new section to the Revised Code: 1349.57.
  • The scope is focused on monitoring rather than prescribing specific regulatory rules in the text provided; detailed powers, funding, reporting requirements, or enforcement mechanisms are not described in the introduced version.

Summary

SB 338 proposes creating within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office a Digital Safety for Children Office tasked with monitoring online safety issues for children, including cyberbullying and data collection practices involving minors. The bill outlines the establishment and monitoring duties but does not specify additional regulatory powers, funding levels, or implementation timelines beyond the general establishment of the office. The measure was introduced in late December 2025 and referred to committee in February 2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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