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HB 927

Expand the offenses of importuning and obstructing justice

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Josh Williams

HB 927 expands penalties and scope for soliciting minors for sexual activity and for obstructing justice in cases involving minors, including online methods and prior offenses.

Referred to committee
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Bill Summary · HB 927

Bill overview

  • Bill: HB 927
  • Session: 136th General Assembly (2025-2026)
  • Sponsor: Representative Williams (Co-sponsor: Josh Williams)
  • Purpose: Amend sections 2907.07 and 2921.32 of the Ohio Revised Code to expand the offenses of importuning and obstructing justice, including modifications to penalties and certain circumstances involving solicitation of minors and aiding offenses.

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill broadens and enhances statutory provisions related to:
    • Importuning (soliciting for sexual activity) involving minors and certain age scenarios.
    • Obstructing justice, specifically in the context of aiding or assisting in the commission of crimes or acts involving a minor.

Key provisions and changes

1) Importuning (Section 2907.07, as amended)

  • Expands and reorganizes various solicitation prohibitions involving minors and age-differential scenarios.
  • Examples of conduct addressed:
    • Soliciting a person under 13 to engage in sexual activity (A)(1).
    • Soliciting a person believed to be under 18 to engage in sexual activity (A)(2).
    • Soliciting a non-spouse to engage in sexual conduct where the offender is 18+ and at least 4 years older than a minor aged 13-15 (B)(1).
    • Soliciting a person 16 or 17 who is a victim of a prior sex offense (A)(2) if the offender is 18+ and knows or recklessly disregards age.
    • Soliciting a person under 16 to engage in sexual activity where the minor is substantially impaired (C).
    • Solicitation via telecommunications devices (D and E) targeting minors or law enforcement posing as minors, with specific age thresholds and offender age differences (18+ and 4+ year age gap in several subparagraphs).
  • Penalties:
    • Violations of certain divisions carry felony classifications with increased seriousness:
    • Division (A)(2) constitutes a felony of the fourth degree.
    • Divisions (A)(1), (C), or (D) generally constitute a felony of the third degree on first offense, with mandatory prison term provisions.
    • If the offender previously committed sexually oriented or child-victim offenses, certain violations scale to felony of the second degree with mandatory terms, and for offenses committed on/after March 22, 2019, minimum terms are specified.
    • Divisions (B) and (E) generally involve felonies of the fifth degree on first offense, with mandatory prison terms under certain conditions (e.g., age gap of 10+ years or officer posing as a minor in certain contexts), and enhanced penalties if prior offenses exist.
    • If the offender has prior sexually oriented or child-victim offenses, some violations become felonies of the fourth degree with mandatory terms (not less than 12 months).

2) Obstructing justice (Section 2921.32, as amended)

  • Expands and codifies actions that constitute obstructing justice in the context of aiding or protecting a minor or a crime.
  • Prohibited actions include:
    • Harboring or concealing the other person or child.
    • Providing money, transportation, weapons, disguises, or other means to avoid discovery.
    • Warning of impending discovery or apprehension.
    • Destroying or concealing evidence or inducing withholding testimony.
    • Communicating false information.
    • Preventing, by force, intimidation, or deception, others from aiding in discovery or prosecution.
    • Failing to report knowledge that an adult is attempting to meet with a minor for sexual activity when the minor is over four years younger.
  • Penalties:
    • Generally, aiding a crime that involved a minor can render the offender guilty of obstructing justice.
    • The degree of obstructing justice ranges from misdemeanor to felony (up to fifth degree) depending on the underlying crime aided and specific circumstances (e.g., murder, aggravated murder, first/second-degree felonies, specified acts of terrorism, or trafficking in persons).

Who/what is affected

  • Offenders who solicit minors for sexual activity, especially where age gaps and specific circumstances are involved.
  • Individuals who aid or obstruct the investigation or pursuit of crimes involving minors (e.g., harboring, concealing, providing resources, or interfering with testimony).
  • Law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary who apply the enhanced penalties and mandatory prison terms.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill both codifies and repeals existing provisions (it repeals current sections 2907.07 and 2921.32 and enacts amended versions).
  • It establishes explicit penalties, including mandatory prison terms for certain offenses, with distinctions based on prior offenses and the severity of the underlying crime.
  • Some provisions apply specifically to conduct that originates in or is received in Ohio via telecommunications devices.
  • The bill includes transitional language referencing offenses committed on or after March 22, 2019 for certain minimum term requirements (relevant to earlier offender histories).

Summary in plain terms

HB 927 tightens and expands Ohio’s laws against soliciting minors for sexual activity and those who help others evade law enforcement in such cases. It increases and clarifies penalties, particularly when there is an age gap of 4+ years, involvement of online or telecommunications communications, and prior sexual offense history. It also broadens the reach of obstructing justice to cover a wider range of acts aimed at hindering investigation, prosecution, or testimony in cases involving minors. The bill repeals the current sections and replaces them with more detailed, penalty-driven provisions.

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

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