The proposed bill, H.B. No. 2025-2026, seeks to establish the Privacy Protection Act in Ohio, amending various sections of the Revised Code to address issues related to biological sex, access to facilities, and the use of names and pronouns in educational settings. Key provisions require covered entities, such as correctional facilities and shelters, to designate multi-occupancy restrooms and changing rooms for exclusive use by individuals of either the male or female sex, with exceptions for children under ten, individuals with disabilities, and certain employees. The bill also allows individuals to take legal action against entities if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in designated spaces. In educational contexts, employees are prohibited from addressing students by names or pronouns inconsistent with their legal names or biological sex without parental consent, and students are protected from disciplinary actions for declining to identify their pronouns.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments regarding community schools and institutions of higher education, mandating the designation of restrooms and facilities for exclusive use by individuals of the same sex and prohibiting the construction of gender-neutral facilities. It also includes provisions for vital records, requiring that marriage and divorce decrees include the sex of both parties and outlining the process for correcting birth and death records. The bill establishes an office of collective bargaining within the Department of Administrative Services to negotiate employment conditions and introduces new definitions related to commercial driver's licenses, enhancing safety regulations and penalties for violations. Overall, the bill aims to reinforce traditional definitions of sex and gender while clarifying regulations surrounding vital records and public facilities.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3314.03, 3319.90, 3326.11, 3345.90, 3705.08, 3705.16, 3705.20, 3705.21, 3705.22, 4117.10, 4506.01, 4506.16, 4507.01