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Bill

SB 70

Enact the Ohio Fairness Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nickie Antonio and 8 co-sponsors

SB 70 extends Ohio anti-discrimination protections to sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public services, and credit access statewide.

Referred to committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 70

Legislative bill overview

SB 70, the Ohio Fairness Act, would extend anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit to individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill applies these protections across state law in areas where discrimination based on other protected classes (race, religion, sex, etc.) is already prohibited.

Why is this important

Currently, Ohio has no explicit state-level protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, leaving LGBTQ+ individuals without legal recourse in many discrimination situations despite federal protections being limited and unevenly enforced. This bill would create consistent, enforceable anti-discrimination standards across multiple sectors of daily life—employment, housing, public services—affecting how businesses and organizations operate statewide.

Potential points of contention

  • Religious exemptions: Disputes over how broadly religious organizations can exempt themselves from anti-discrimination requirements, particularly in employment and service provision
  • Business compliance costs: Concerns from small businesses about administrative burdens and legal exposure from new compliance requirements
  • Bathroom and facilities access: Disagreement over how gender identity protections apply to single-sex facilities, locker rooms, and similar spaces in public accommodations
  • Free speech conflicts: Questions about potential conflicts between anti-discrimination enforcement and speech rights in certain contexts
  • Enforcement mechanisms: Debate over the strength of enforcement tools, penalties, and who oversees compliance

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

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