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Bill

HB 371

Make elected officials mandatory child abuse, neglect reporters

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Plummer and 1 co-sponsor

Ohio bill expands mandatory child abuse reporting requirements to all elected officials, potentially broadening identification and reporting of suspected abuse and neglect cases.

Referred to committee
#childwelfare #juvenileandfamilylaw
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Bill Summary · HB 371

Legislative bill overview

HB 371 would require all elected officials in Ohio to be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Currently, mandatory reporter laws in Ohio apply to specific professionals like teachers, healthcare workers, and social workers, but not to elected officials as a class. This bill would expand those requirements to include anyone holding elected office at state, county, municipal, or local levels.

Why is this important

Child abuse and neglect reporting laws depend on professionals with regular access to children or families to identify and report suspected cases. Expanding mandatory reporter status could theoretically increase reporting of abuse occurring in public settings or coming to officials' attention. However, the practical impact depends heavily on implementation details—elected officials have varying levels of direct contact with children compared to traditional mandatory reporters.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and practicality: Elected officials may have minimal direct observation of children compared to teachers or healthcare providers, raising questions about whether this meaningfully increases child protection or creates reporting burdens for officials without relevant knowledge
  • Liability and enforcement: The bill doesn't specify penalties for non-reporting, training requirements, or how violations would be prosecuted, creating uncertainty about actual enforcement
  • Privacy and jurisdiction concerns: Unclear whether officials must report based on secondhand information, gossip, or unverified claims, and whether this could create conflicts with other duties or infringe on family privacy without clear safeguards

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

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