Enact Hailey's Law

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michele Reynolds and 1 co-sponsor

Hailey's Law would create stronger protections and penalties for cruel or endangering acts toward children or vulnerable individuals, enhancing enforcement and reporting.

Referred to committee

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Summary of SB 379 (Session 136) – Enact Hailey's Law (Ohio)

Purpose and intent

SB 379 is a bill introduced in the Ohio General Assembly with the stated aim of enacting “Hailey's Law.” While the specific legislative text is not provided here, the title suggests the bill seeks to create or modify criminal penalties or protective measures related to incidents involving harm to a child or vulnerable individual, potentially in contexts such as animal cruelty, domestic violence, or child welfare, depending on the exact language. The bill has been referred to committee for consideration.

Key provisions and changes (as generally inferred from the title)

The bill would enact provisions named “Hailey's Law,” which typically denotes targeted protections or enhanced penalties in specific scenarios. Common features in similar legislation include:

New or heightened criminal offenses or classifications (e.g., felonies or enhanced penalties) for certain acts resulting in serious harm or death.
Expanded or clarified definitions for terms like “abuse,” “neglect,” “coercion,” or “endangerment.”
Protective or reporting requirements for professionals or organizations (e.g., mandated reporters, whistleblower protections).
Procedures for authorities to address cases more swiftly or with additional oversight.

Without the exact text, the summary focuses on the typical scope of such laws: increasing accountability, defining prohibited conduct more clearly, and establishing enforcement mechanisms.

Who would be affected

Individuals and entities directly involved in the prohibited or enhanced-consequence activities (e.g., offenders under the new or amended offenses).

Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts responsible for enforcing, charging, and adjudicating the new or revised offenses.

Potentially, victims and survivors who would benefit from stronger protections or quicker responses.

Professionals with mandated reporting duties if the bill expands such obligations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

History:

Introduced: March 16, 2026
Referred to committee: March 25, 2026

Next steps in the legislative process typically include committee consideration (hearings, amendments), potential floor votes in the house of origin, then passage to the other chamber and, if approved, to the governor for signature.

The exact timeline depends on committee actions, scheduling, and the broader legislative agenda.

Additional contextual notes

The bill lists two co-sponsors: Michele Reynolds and Kristina Roegner, indicating some legislative support and bipartisan engagement.

Since the text and specific provisions are not provided in this summary, readers should consult the bill’s current language and fiscal notes for precise details on:

Definitions
Specific offenses and penalties
Any new reporting, notification, or victim-protection provisions
Fiscal impact or implementation costs

If you can provide the bill’s actual text or a link to the official bill manuscript, I can produce a more precise, line-by-line summary of the provisions, penalties, and affected agencies.