(COLUMBUS) - Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would create a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders, but advocacy organizations are raising concerns about the proposal's potential impact on survivors.
House Bill 846 would require individuals convicted of domestic violence who have at least one prior conviction to register in a publicly accessible database maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The proposed registry would include an offender's name, photograph, date of birth and conviction information. Home addresses and Social Security numbers would not be publicly listed.
Supporters say the registry would improve victim safety and help law enforcement identify repeat offenders.
However, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence have expressed concerns that the registry could discourage some victims from reporting abuse and could unintentionally identify survivors, particularly in smaller communities.
Advocacy groups have also questioned the effectiveness of domestic violence registries, noting that Tennessee is currently the only state with a similar system.
A fiscal analysis estimates startup costs of about $50,000, with annual operating costs between $15,000 and $20,000.
Under the proposal, offenders would be removed from the registry after two, five or 10 years, depending on the number of prior convictions.
The bill remains under consideration in the Ohio House Public Safety Committee.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported 157 domestic violence fatalities statewide between July 2024 and June 2025, the highest number recorded during the organization's decade of tracking such deaths.