OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 504 Bill Analysis
134th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 504’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Reported by Senate Judiciary
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Carfagna and Johnson
Effective Date:
Dennis M. Papp, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Increases the penalty for a violation of the prohibition under the offense of “disturbing a
lawful meeting” from a fourth degree misdemeanor to a first degree misdemeanor if
either of the following apply:
 The violation is committed with the intent to disturb or disquiet any assemblage of
people met for religious worship at a tax-exempt place of worship and disturbs the
order and solemnity of the assemblage.
 The violation is committed with the intent to prevent, disrupt, or interfere with a
virtual meeting or gathering of people for religious worship, through use of a
computer, computer system, telecommunications system, or other electronic device
or system, or in any other manner.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Disturbing a lawful meeting
Prohibition
Under current law, unchanged by the bill, the prohibition under the offense of
“disturbing a lawful meeting” prohibits a person, with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful
meeting, procession, or gathering, from doing either of the following:1
 This analysis was prepared before the report of the Senate Judiciary Committee appeared in the
Senate Journal. Note that the legislative history may be incomplete.
1 R.C. 2917.12(A).
December 14, 2022
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 Doing any act which obstructs or interferes with the due conduct of such meeting,
procession, or gathering;
 Making any utterance, gesture, or display which outrages the sensibilities of the group.
Penalty
The penalty for a violation of the prohibition currently is a fourth degree misdemeanor.
The bill increases the penalty for a violation of the offense to a first degree misdemeanor if
either of the following applies:2
 The violation is committed with the intent to disturb or disquiet any assemblage of
people met for religious worship at a tax-exempt place of worship, regardless of
whether the conduct is within the place at which the assemblage is held or is on the
property on which that place is located and disturbs the order and solemnity of the
assemblage.
 The violation is committed with the intent to prevent, disrupt, or interfere with a virtual
meeting or gathering of people for religious worship, through use of a computer,
computer system, telecommunications system, or other electronic device or system, or
in any other manner.
Definitions
The bill defines the following terms:3
 “Computer” means an electronic device that performs logical, arithmetic, and memory
functions by the manipulation of electronic or magnetic impulses. “Computer” includes,
but is not limited to, all input, output, processing, storage, computer program, or
communication facilities that are connected, or related, in a computer system or
network to an electronic device of that nature.
 “Computer system” means a computer and related devices, whether connected or
unconnected, including, but not limited to, data input, output, and storage devices, data
communications links, and computer programs and data that make the system capable
of performing specified special purpose data processing tasks.
 “Telecommunications device” means any instrument, equipment, machine, or other
device that facilitates telecommunication, including, but not limited to, a computer,
computer network, computer chip, computer circuit, scanner, telephone, cellular
telephone, pager, personal communications device, transponder, receiver, radio,
modem, or device that enables the use of a modem.
2 R.C. 2917.12(B).
3 R.C. 2917.12(C); and by reference to R.C. 2913.01, not in the bill.
P a g e |2 H.B. 504
As Reported by Senate Judiciary
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 “Virtual meeting or gathering” means a meeting or gathering by interactive video
conference or teleconference, or both.
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 12-07-21
Reported, H. Criminal Justice 03-28-22
Passed House (95-1) 04-06-22
Reported, S. Judiciary --
ANHB0504RS-134/ar
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As Reported by Senate Judiciary


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2917.12
As Reported By House Committee: 2917.12
As Passed By House: 2917.12