HB 501: Modify and rename the wrongful incarceration law

Ohio · House · 136th General Assembly (2025–2026) · last verified September 24, 2026

What HB 501 does, verified September 24, 2026

The bill aims to amend the wrongful imprisonment law to provide better compensation to individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned or incarcerated. The state auditor will make adjustments to the amount of compensation for each year of imprisonment or incarceration. The court of common pleas has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine actions brought by individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned. The auditor will adjust the actual dollar figure for compensation annually in January of odd-numbered years. Existing sections regarding wrongful imprisonment will be repealed.

Bill journey

1IntroducedCurrent

2In CommitteePending

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: Referred to committee: Judiciary (2025-10-08)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Rep. Josh WilliamsAuthor · Ohio House of Representatives

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Coauthors

Sean BrennanJack DanielsEric SynenbergTerrence Upchurch

Recent actions2 total · showing 2

Oct. 08, 2025	Referred to committee: Judiciary
Oct. 07, 2025	Introduced

Latest bill textIntroduced version, October 8, 2025 · 382 words

As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

H. B. No. 501

2025-2026

Representatives Williams, Rogers

Cosponsors: Representatives Brennan, Daniels, Synenberg, Upchurch

To amend sections 117.52, 2305.02, 2743.15, 2743.48, and 2743.49 of the Revised Code to modify the wrongful imprisonment law and to rename the provisions wrongful incarceration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 117.52, 2305.02, 2743.15, 2743.48, and 2743.49 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 117.52.

8 The auditor of state shall make the adjustment, as described in section 2743.49 of the Revised Code, of the amount that a wrongfully imprisoned-incarcerated individual, in an action brought in the court of claims pursuant to section 2743.48 of the Revised Code, may receive for each full year or part of a year of imprisonment-incarceration and shall perform all of the functions relating to that adjustment as specified in section 2743.49 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 2305.02.

16 The court of common pleas in the county where the underlying criminal action was initiated has exclusive, original jurisdiction to hear and determine an action or proceeding that is commenced by an individual who satisfies

Sec. 2743.15.

31 (A) The director or other administrative chief, or the governing body, of any department, board, office, commission, agency, institution, or other instrumentality of the state:

Sec. 2743.48.

48 (A) (A) As used in this section and section 2743.49 and section 2743.49 of the Revised Code, a "wrongfully imprisoned:

Sec. 2743.49.

488 (A) (1) In January of each odd-numbered year, the auditor of state, in accordance with this division and division (A) (2) of this section, shall adjust the actual dollar figure specified in division (E) (2) (b) of section 2743.48 of the Revised Code or the actual dollar amount determined pursuant to this section.

Section 2. That existing sections 117.52, 2305.02, 2743.15, 2743.48, and 2743.49 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Text of HB 501 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions