Public Policy

The Ohio Victim Witness Association promotes public policy that upholds the rights of victims and survivors of crime and enhances services. We track legislation that impacts victims and survivors of crime, mobilize our members to advocate for change, and pursue opportunities to make Ohio a more equitable and just place to live.

Ohio’s Legislative Process

Ohio’s Representatives and Senators draft changes to the state law in the form of a bill. Many bills are the result of advocacy efforts by organizations or individuals. After a bill has been drafted, it is given a unique number. Then, depending on whether a Senator or Representative drafted the bill, it is introduced to the Senate or House, respectively. The bill is referred to a specialized committee within the House or Senate, where bill sponsor, proponent, opponent, and interested party testimony is heard. Amendments to the bill’s language may also be considered at this point.

After parties have the opportunity to testify in front of the committee, the committee may choose to vote on the bill. If there is favorable passage from committee, the bill will return to the general House or Senate assembly, where a vote of all members will take place.

In Ohio, a bill must pass through the House (and assigned House committee) and the Senate (and assigned Senate committee). Once approved by both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the governor for final approval and signature. For a more detailed flow chart, click here.

Get Involved!

Join us as we strive to advocate for the rights and well-being of victims and survivors of crime. Contact your legislator, provide testimony to proposed legislation, join our public policy committee, or contact us with your thoughts.

Find your legislator:

Providing Testimony

Track bills and committee meetings by creating an account or searching on the Ohio Legislature’s website. A committee will email and post a notice of any upcoming meetings at least a few days in advance, with a date, time, place, and listing of what bills will be discussed.

To submit testimony, complete and submit the Accessible Witness Information Form to the committee chair at least 24 hours before the meeting. You can submit written-only testimony or choose to testify in person. You can also watch live or recorded committee sessions on the Ohio Channel.

Please note: You have a right to request reasonable accommodation in order to testify. Request an accommodation by emailing the committee chair. You can also contact the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, 614-752-9777 or TTY, through the Ohio Relay Service at 800-750-0750. For more tips on accessing the statehouse, we recommend Disability Rights Ohio’s Public Policy Resource Center.

Bill Tracker for Ohio’s 136th General Assembly

Bill	Title	Current Committee	Status	OVWA Position	Notes
Stay tuned for updates on the 136th General Assembly!

Federal Legislative Advocacy

Federally, OVWA is focused on the continued low balances in the Crime Victims Fund. Each year, disbursements from this fund are made to states, and crime victim services programs receive grant funds from the state. Since 2018, Ohio’s allocation from the CVF has dwindled by about 76% since 2018. To stay up-to-date and receive calls to action on this issue, please join our mailing list.