Ohio legislation · 136th General Assembly
Ohio HB359: Regards emergency Joshua Alert system for certain missing kids
Status: Signed into law, September 17, 2026
To amend section 5502.522 of the Revised Code to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert.
What the bill says
To amend section 5502.522 of the Revised Code to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert.
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
To amend section 5502.522 of the Revised Code to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio: Section 1. That section 5502.522 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: Sec. 5502.522. (A) There is hereby created the statewide emergency alert program to aid in the identification and location of any individual who has a mental impairment, has autism spectrum disorder or another developmental disability, or is sixty-five years of age or older, who is or is believed to be a temporary or permanent resident of this state, is at a location that cannot be determined by an individual familiar with the missing individual, and is incapable of returning to the missing individual's residence without assistance, and whose disappearance, as determined by a law enforcement agency, poses a credible threat of immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death to the missing individual. The program shall be a coordinated effort among the governor's office, the department of public safety, the attorney general, law enforcement agencies, the state's public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, and others as determined necessary by the governor. No name shall be given to the program created …
Sponsors
- Cecil Thomas (D, 25) · primary sponsor
- Jennifer Gross (R, 45) · primary sponsor
- Munira Abdullahi (D, 9)
- Cindy Abrams (R, 29)
- Rachel Baker (D, 27)
- Tim Barhorst (R, 85)
- Adam Bird (R, 63)
- Sean Brennan (D, 14)
- Juanita Brent (D, 18)
- Darnell Brewer (D, 22)
- Karen Brownlee (D, 28)
- Thaddeus Claggett (R, 68)
Latest actions
- : Effective
- : Signed By The Governor
- : Sent To The Governor
- : Passed
- : Reported
- : Referred to committee
- : Introduced
- : Passed
- : Reported - Amended
- : Referred to committee
Votes
- Passed (June 3, 2026): 31 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Favorable Passage (April 21, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, failed
- Passed (November 12, 2025): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Favorable Passage (October 29, 2025): 13 yea, 0 nay, failed
Subjects: Law Enforcement, Health and Human Services, Child Welfare, Juvenile and Family Law, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and Disabilities, Crimes, Corrections, and Law Enforcement
Common questions
- What is HB359?
- HB359 is a bill in the Ohio Legislature (136th General Assembly): Regards emergency Joshua Alert system for certain missing kids.
- What does HB359 do?
- In its own words: To amend section 5502.522 of the Revised Code to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert.
- What is the status of HB359?
- Signed into law as of September 17, 2026. Latest action: Effective (September 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB359?
- Cecil Thomas (D, 25), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB359?
- On the Ohio Legislature website: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb359
Source: official Ohio record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.