Ohio legislation · 136th General Assembly
Ohio HB478: Create jury tampering offense; revise court intimidation offenses
Status: In committee, June 2, 2026
To amend section 2921.04 and to enact section 2921.06 of the Revised Code to create the offense of jury tampering and to include a public servant in the offense of intimidation of an attorney, victim, witness, or public servant in a criminal case.
What the bill says
To amend section 2921.04 and to enact section 2921.06 of the Revised Code to create the offense of jury tampering and to include a public servant in the offense of intimidation of an attorney, victim, witness, or public servant in a criminal case.
From the amended text, May 20, 2026:
To amend section 2921.04 and to enact section 2921.06 of the Revised Code to create the offense of jury tampering and to include a public servant in the offense of intimidation of an attorney, victim, witness, or public servant in a criminal case. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. That section 2921.04 be amended and section 2921.06 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: Sec. 2921.04. (A) No person shall knowingly attempt to intimidate or hinder the victim of a crime or delinquent act in the filing or prosecution of criminal charges or a delinquent child action or proceeding, and no person shall knowingly attempt to intimidate a witness to a criminal or delinquent act by reason of the person being a witness to that act. (B) No person, knowingly and by force or by unlawful threat of harm to any person or property or by unlawful threat to commit any offense or calumny against any person, shall attempt to influence, intimidate, or hinder any of the following persons: (1) The victim of a crime or delinquent act in the filing or prosecution of criminal charges or a delinquent child action or proceeding; (2) A witness to a criminal or delinquent act by reason of the person being a …
Sponsors
- David Thomas (R, 65) · primary sponsor
- Eric Synenberg (D, 21) · primary sponsor
- Tim Barhorst (R, 85)
- Adam Bird (R, 63)
- Sean Brennan (D, 14)
- Gary Click (R, 88)
- Jack Daniels (R, 32)
- Michael Dovilla (R, 17)
- Arthur, Sarah Fowler (R, 99)
- Haraz Ghanbari (R, 75)
- Chris Glassburn (D, 15)
- Michele Grim (D, 43)
Latest actions
- : Referred to committee
- : Introduced
- : Reported
- : Passed
- : Referred to committee
- : Introduced
Votes
- Passed (May 20, 2026): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Favorable Passage (May 20, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, failed
Subjects: Public Officials and Employees, Courts, State and Local Government, Crimes, Corrections, and Law Enforcement, Courts and Civil Law, Crime and Punishment
Common questions
- What is HB478?
- HB478 is a bill in the Ohio Legislature (136th General Assembly): Create jury tampering offense; revise court intimidation offenses.
- What does HB478 do?
- In its own words: To amend section 2921.04 and to enact section 2921.06 of the Revised Code to create the offense of jury tampering and to include a public servant in the offense of intimidation of an attorney, victim, witness, or public servant in a criminal case.
- What is the status of HB478?
- In committee as of June 2, 2026. Latest action: Referred to committee (June 2, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB478?
- David Thomas (R, 65), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB478?
- On the Ohio Legislature website: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb478
Source: official Ohio record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.