OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 195 Final Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 195’s Fiscal Note
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Demetriou and Brennan
Effective date: August 9, 2024
Effective date:
Larry Gunter, Jr., Research Analyst
SUMMARY
Adaptive mobility dealer license
 Establishes an adaptive mobility dealer (AMD) license, subject to the laws within the
Motor Vehicle Sales Law.
 Authorizes a licensed AMD to do the following:
 Display, sell, and deliver an adaptive mobility vehicle (AMV), which are vehicles
designed, modified, or equipped in accordance with federal requirements to enable
an individual with a disability to operate or to be transported in the vehicle;
 Sell and install adaptive mobility equipment, which are the mechanical or electronic
devices or parts that are permanently attached to or incorporated into a vehicle to
facilitate its use by a person who is aging or who is disabled; and
 Provide maintenance and repair services for AMVs and adaptive mobility
equipment.
 Prohibits an AMD from doing the following:
 Representing that the AMD sells new motor vehicles;
 Selling, transferring, or offering to sell or transfer a new motor vehicle unless that
vehicle is purchased through a licensed new motor vehicle dealer; or
 Selling or offering to sell an adaptive mobility vehicle without written
documentation that proves the vehicle was modified or adapted in accordance with
federal law.
 Establishes requirements for an AMD, similar to the requirements of other dealers in
the Motor Vehicle Sales Law, pertaining to:
 The application process;
 Their established place of business;
June 5, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 The purchase of new motor vehicles to be adapted by the AMD into an AMV; and
 Written documentation to provide with the sale of the AMV.
 Generally prohibits the sale of an AMV by any person not licensed as an AMD, except
that a licensed new motor vehicle dealer may sell used AMVs.
 Specifies that AMVs are a type of passenger car or bus for purposes of registration taxes
and fees and may be registered under the laws granting access to accessible parking
spaces.
Purchase and lease of motor vehicles
 Eliminates the requirement that an ultimate purchaser must use a motor vehicle as a
consumer after purchase of the vehicle through a retail sale.
 Specifies that an AMD and a used motor vehicle dealer do not violate provisions of law
that stipulate that vehicle transactions must take place on the dealer’s premises when a
customer executes purchase or lease documentation at a different location.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Background
Federal law generally regulates motor vehicle equipment requirements and any
exemptions to those requirements. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a
series of motor vehicle equipment exemptions related to vehicle modifications that enable a
person with disabilities either to operate or to be a passenger in a motor vehicle more
comfortably. Modifications include replacing a driver’s seat or passenger’s seat with a
wheelchair lock, installing ramps or lifts, installing on-off switches for front airbags, and many
other similar adaptations.1
Adaptive mobility dealer license
The act establishes an adaptive mobility dealer (AMD) license within the parameters of
the Motor Vehicle Sales Law (R.C. Chapter 4517). An adaptive mobility vehicle (AMV) is a new
or used passenger car or bus that is designed, modified, or equipped to enable an individual
with a disability to operate or to be transported in the vehicle. The vehicle must contain at least
one of the following:
 An electronic or mechanical lift used by a person in a wheelchair or scooter to enter or
exit the vehicle;
 An electronic or mechanical wheelchair ramp; or
1 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 595.
P a g e |2 H.B. 195
Final Analysis
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 A system to secure a wheelchair or scooter safely when transported in the vehicle.2
Under the act, any new vehicle an AMD purchases to modify into an AMV must be
purchased from a licensed new motor vehicle dealer. The AMD can then modify the purchased
vehicle according to federal regulations, and sell, display, offer for sale, deliver, and deal in
those AMVs. The AMD may not represent, however, that the dealer is selling new motor
vehicles. Additionally, the AMD must always provide the proper written documentation along
with the AMV proving that the AMV was adapted or modified in accordance with federal
regulations. A violation of these requirements is a minor misdemeanor on the first offense, with
a mandatory $100 fine. Subsequent violations are a first degree misdemeanor with a $1,000
fine.3
The act also authorizes an AMD to sell and install adaptive mobility equipment, any
related accessories, and other goods and services to meet the adaptive mobility needs of
drivers and passengers with disabilities. Adaptive mobility equipment includes the mechanical
or electrical devices or parts that are designed to facilitate the use of a motor vehicle by either
a person with a disability or a person who is aging, and that are permanently attached or
incorporated into a motor vehicle in accordance with federal regulations. Additionally, an AMD
may provide the necessary maintenance and repair services for AMVs and the adaptive mobility
equipment.4
In conjunction with establishing the AMD license, the act also prohibits any person from
engaging in the business of displaying or selling at retail AMVs or assuming to engage in that
business without the proper license. However, the act allows a licensed new motor vehicle
dealer to sell at retail a used AMV. A violation of the prohibition is a minor misdemeanor on the
first offense, with a mandatory $100 fine. Subsequent violations are a first degree
misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine.5
Motor Vehicle Sales Law
AMDs are subject to the general requirements of all dealers within the Motor Vehicle
Sales Law. As such, they are subject to oversight by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the
Motor Vehicle Dealers Board. Additionally, AMDs must abide by the same requirements
expected of other motor vehicle dealers. Some of those requirements include:
 Having an established place of business that is used exclusively for selling, displaying,
offering for sale, dealing in, and inspection/repair of AMVs and the associated adaptive
2 R.C. 4501.01(III).
3 R.C. 4517.01(NN) and 4517.02(F) and (G).
4 R.C. 4517.01(NN) and (OO) and 4517.02(F).
5 R.C. 4517.02(A)(8) and (G).
P a g e |3 H.B. 195
Final Analysis
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
mobility equipment (although an AMD also may be a licensed remanufacturer or motor
vehicle leasing dealer without violating the place of business restrictions);6
 Application and renewal requirements (see “Applicant requirements,” below);
 A $50 initial and biennial renewal licensure fee, plus other fees and assessments
required by statute or the Registrar;7
 Requirements governing using licensed salespersons for the sale of AMVs;8
 Restrictions on when and where AMVs may be displayed or sold;9
 Notification requirements pertaining to status and changes in contact information;10
 Requirements governing the sale of an AMV (e.g., mileage disclosure, written
agreements, documentary service charges, third party motor vehicle history reports,
etc.);11 and
 Due process procedures for decisions made by the Motor Vehicle Dealers Board.12
Applicant requirements
A person must apply to the Registrar for an AMD license in order to operate as an AMD.
A separate license is issued for each county in which the AMD is operating. The person then
must submit an application biennially before April 1 for each county in which business is
conducted in order to renew that license.13 The Registrar must create the application form,
which must include the following (similar to other dealer licenses):
1. The applicant’s name and the location of the principal place of business;
2. The name and type of business entity (e.g., corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, etc.) and state of incorporation, if pertinent;
3. The name and address of each owner or partner (if a corporation, names of officers or
directors);
4. The county in which the business will operate and the address of all locations;
6 R.C. 4517.03(H).
7 R.C. 4505.181 and 4517.10, not in the act.
8 R.C. 4517.20, not in the act.
9 R.C. 4517.22 and 4517.221, not in the act.
10 R.C. 4517.23, not in the act.
11 R.C. 4517.25 to 4517.262, not in the act.
12 R.C. 4517.30 to 4517.58, not in the act.
13 R.C. 4517.041(A).
P a g e |4 H.B. 195
Final Analysis
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
5. A statement regarding the applicant’s business reputation (including certain criminal
and civil action records);
6. A statement regarding previous applications for related licenses (including the result of
those applications and whether any prior license was suspended or revoked);
7. If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, a statement showing whether any
partners, employees, officers, or directors were previously denied a similar license or a
similar license was suspended or revoked;
8. A statement that the business will meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act
accessibility guidelines;
9. A statement that any new motor vehicle purchased by an AMD will be purchased
through a new motor vehicle dealer; and
10. Any other information required by the Registrar.14
The applicant must sign and swear to the application and must include a photograph of
the business location.15
Registration of an AMV
The act changes references in the law governing the registration of a motor vehicle
altered with accessible equipment to specifically refer to AMVs. Thus, the owner of an AMV
may register it in the same manner as a passenger car or bus and pay the same registration
taxes and fees. If the applicant for registration does not have a disability that limits or impairs
the ability to walk (for example a transport company), the applicant must provide the Registrar
with additional documentation of the AMV’s specifications when registering it.16
Purchase or lease of motor vehicles
The act makes two modifications to the laws surrounding the purchase or lease of
motor vehicles by dealers. First, it eliminates the requirement that an ultimate purchaser must
use a motor vehicle as a consumer after the vehicle is purchased through a retail sale.17
Additionally, the act specifies that an AMD and a used motor vehicle dealer do not violate the
requirement that a vehicle transaction take place at a dealer’s established place of business if
the dealer’s customer executes purchase or lease documentation at a location other than the
dealer’s established place of business. Current law already allows new motor vehicle dealer
14 R.C. 4517.041(A) and (C).
15 R.C. 4517.041(B).
16 R.C. 4503.44(B).
17 R.C. 4517.01(G).
P a g e |5 H.B. 195
Final Analysis
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
customers to execute purchase and lease documentation at other locations. Thus, the act
extends that authorization to the AMDs and used motor vehicle dealers.18
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 05-30-23
Reported, H. Commerce & Labor 10-03-23
Passed House (89-1) 12-06-23
Reported, S. Transportation 04-24-24
Passed Senate (32-0) 04-24-24
House concurred in Senate amendments (91-2) 04-24-24
24-ANHB0195EN-135/ar
18 R.C. 4517.03.
P a g e |6 H.B. 195
Final Analysis


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03
As Reported By House Committee: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03
As Passed By House: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03
As Reported By Senate Committee: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03
As Passed By Senate: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03
As Enrolled: 4501.01, 4503.44, 4517.01, 4517.02, 4517.03, 4517.041