Am. H. B. No. 260 amends various sections of the Revised Code to enhance the jurisdiction and operational procedures of municipal and county courts. Key provisions include allowing municipal court judges to operate outside their corporate limits and clarifying their powers, such as performing marriage ceremonies and managing court procedures in line with the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. The bill also repeals outdated sections related to county court clerks and civil actions in municipal courts, aiming to modernize court operations and improve judicial efficiency.

Additionally, the bill addresses the roles of clerks in county and probate courts, allowing for the establishment of branch offices and the appointment of special deputy clerks, who must take an oath and may need to provide a bond. It modifies testimonial privileges for attorneys and healthcare providers, clarifying when they can be compelled to testify while maintaining patient confidentiality. Notable deletions include the removal of the requirement for a signed acknowledgment of receipt of the guardianship guide to be permanently kept in the guardianship file. Overall, Am. H. B. No. 260 seeks to balance confidentiality in professional-client relationships with accountability and public safety concerns.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 109.04, 1901.021, 1901.14, 1901.22, 1907.20, 2111.011, 2307.23, 2317.02, 2317.021, 2317.41, 2317.422, 2939.03, 2939.06, 2941.61, 2943.02, 2945.51, 2945.52, 2945.53, 2945.54, 1901.16, 1901.41, 1907.21, 1907.231, 2101.12, 2101.121, 2101.14, 2101.141, 2301.141, 2317.03, 2317.40, 2317.42, 2939.02, 2939.11, 2939.19, 2939.20, 2941.021, 2943.03, 2943.04, 2945.12, 2945.30, 2945.31, 2945.33, 2945.34, 2945.41, 2945.45, 2945.50
As Reported By House Committee: 1901.021, 1901.14, 1901.22, 1907.20, 2111.011, 2307.23, 2317.02, 2317.021, 2939.03, 2939.06, 2943.02, 2945.51, 2945.52, 2945.53, 2945.54, 1901.16, 1901.41, 1907.21, 1907.231, 2101.12, 2101.121, 2101.14, 2101.141, 2301.141, 2317.03, 2317.42, 2939.02, 2939.20, 2941.021, 2943.04, 2945.30, 2945.31, 2945.33, 2945.34, 2945.41, 2945.50
As Passed By House: 1901.021, 1901.14, 1901.22, 1907.20, 2111.011, 2307.23, 2317.02, 2317.021, 2939.03, 2939.06, 2943.02, 2945.51, 2945.52, 2945.53, 2945.54, 1901.16, 1901.41, 1907.21, 1907.231, 2101.12, 2101.121, 2101.14, 2101.141, 2301.141, 2317.03, 2317.42, 2939.02, 2939.20, 2941.021, 2943.04, 2945.30, 2945.31, 2945.33, 2945.34, 2945.41, 2945.50