OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 17 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 17’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Schmidt and Swearingen
Effective date:
Abby Gerty, LSC Fellow
SUMMARY
 Prohibits the download, installation, or use of TikTok, WeChat, or other Chinese-owned
applications on state computers, networks, and devices, except for purposes of law
enforcement or information technology security.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Ban covered applications on state devices
In January 2023, Governor DeWine issued an executive order that prohibits the
download and use of any social media application, channel, and platform that is owned by an
entity in China on devices and networks that are owned or leased by the state.1 Similarly, bill
prohibits the download, installation, and use of covered applications on state agency
computers, networks, and devices. A “covered application” is defined as:
 The TikTok application, or any successor application or service developed or provided by
ByteDance;
 The WeChat application and service, or any successor application or service developed
or provided by Tencent Holdings; or
 Any application or service owned by an entity located in China, including QQ
International (QQi), Qzone, Weibo, Xiao, HongShu, Zhihu, Meituan, Toutiao, Alipay,
1 “Executive Order 2023-03D,” Governor Mike DeWine, which may be accessed on the Governor’s
website: governor.ohio.gov, under the “Media” tab by clicking “Executive Orders” and then searching
for “2023-03D.”
June 26, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Xiami Music, Tiantian Music, DingTalkfDing Ding, Douban, RenRen, Youku/Tudou, Little
Red Book, and Zhihu.2
The bill’s prohibition is effectuated by rules adopted by the State Chief Information
Officer, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The rules must require state
agencies to remove any covered applications from equipment owned or leased by the state and
take necessary measures to prevent the download, installation, and use of covered applications
on state computers, networks, and devices. A “state agency” is defined as every organized
body, office, or agency established by the state for the exercise of any function of state
government. The General Assembly, any legislative agency, and the Capitol Square Review and
Advisory Board are included in this definition. The definition excludes any state-supported
institution of higher education, the courts, or any judicial agency.3
Exceptions
The bill includes an exception that allows qualified individuals to download, install, and
use a covered application for law enforcement or information technology security purposes. To
do so, appropriate measures must be taken to mitigate security risks.4
Regulatory restriction reduction requirement exemption
Rules adopted under the bill are exempt from continuing law requirements concerning
reductions in regulatory restrictions. Currently, the State Chief Information Officer must take
actions to reduce regulatory restrictions, including, by June 30, 2025, reducing the amount of
regulatory restrictions contained in an inventory created in 2019 in accordance with a statutory
schedule. A “regulatory restriction” is any part of an administrative rule that requires or
prohibits an action.
Without that exemption, the Officer must do all of the following with respect to any
regulatory restrictions contained in rules adopted under the bill:
 Until June 30, 2025, and for so long as the Officer fails to reach the reductions required
under the statutory schedule, remove two or more existing regulatory restrictions for
each new restriction adopted (referred to as the “two-for-one rule”);
 Refrain from adopting a regulatory restriction when doing so would negate a previous
reduction;
 Beginning July 1, 2025, refrain from adopting a regulatory restriction when doing so
would cause the total number of regulatory restrictions in effect to exceed a statewide
cap calculated by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.5
2 R.C. 125.183(A)(1).
3 R.C. 125.183(A)(2) and (B).
4 R.C. 125.183(C).
5 R.C. 122.183(D); see also, R.C. 121.95 to 121.953, not in the bill.
P a g e |2 H.B. 17
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 02-15-23
Reported, H. Technology & Innovation 06-14-23
Passed House (73-21) 06-14-23
ANHB0017PH-135ks
P a g e |3 H.B. 17
As Passed by the House