Laws of Ohio - Current & Historical
All Ohio laws are found in either the Ohio Constitution or the Ohio Revised Code (R.C.). There are two ways to create or change laws in the State of Ohio. Both paths involve public oversight and recordkeeping by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
1. Legislative Process: The General Assembly
The first way to make or change a law is through the Ohio General Assembly.
Legislators introduce, debate, and pass bills.
Once passed through both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, bills are sent to the governor for his signature.
The final bill is then filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, who serves as the official record keeper (R.C. 149.091).
Under Article II, Section 1d of the Ohio Constitution, a new law takes effect 90 days after filing, unless:
The bill includes an appropriation, or
The legislation contains an emergency clause, or
The law provides for tax levies, or
The General Assembly specifies a different effective date.
You can view current effective dates and see which bills have been filed with the Secretary of State’s office on the Current Session with Effective Dates.
2. Citizen or Legislative Ballot Initiatives
The second way to propose a new law or change an existing one is through a ballot initiative. Once certified, ballot initiatives are placed on the November ballot, where Ohio voters decide whether to adopt or reject the measure.
Ballot initiatives can originate from:
The Ohio General Assembly, or
Ohio citizens who gather the required number of petition signatures.
Ballot initiatives that pass with more than 50 percent of the vote take effect in 30 days upon certification of the election by the Ohio Secretary of State.