House BillIntroduced
HB 588: Apply employment portions of Civil Rights Law to unpaid interns
What HB 588 does, verified September 24, 2026
The bill aims to amend the Ohio Civil Rights Law to apply its employment provisions to unpaid interns. This means that unpaid interns will be entitled to the same protections as employees, including protection from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The law defines an "employer" as any person or organization that employs four or more people, and an "employee" includes anyone who performs unpaid work for the purpose of acquiring knowledge or experience. The bill also clarifies the definition of "physical or mental impairment" to exclude certain conditions, such as addiction and substance abuse. The updated law will apply to all public and private employers in Ohio, and will provide protections to unpaid interns in various settings, including housing, public accommodations, and employment.<br>The bill aims to protect employees from discriminatory practices based on pregnancy, ch…
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Last action: Referred to committee: Commerce and Labor (2025-11-19)Alert me
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| Nov. 19, 2025 | Referred to committee: Commerce and Labor |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | Introduced |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, November 13, 2025 · 1,919 words
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. B. No. 588
2025-2026
Representative McNally
Cosponsors: Representatives Grim, Somani, Brennan, Brownlee, Upchurch
A BILL
To amend sections 3701.249 and 4112.01 of the 1
Revised Code to apply the employment portions of 2
the Ohio Civil Rights Law to unpaid interns. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 3701.249 and 4112.01 of the 4
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3701.249.
(A)
As used in this section,-"employer"-and
"employee"-have-:
"employee"-have-:
(1)
"Employer" has the same meanings-meaning as in section 8
4112.01 of the Revised Code.
4112.01 of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Employee" means an individual employed by any 10
employer but does not include any individual employed in the 11
domestic service of any person.
employer but does not include any individual employed in the 11
domestic service of any person.
(B)
The employer of a person with HIV infection is immune 13
from liability to any person in a civil action for damages for 14
injury, death, or loss to person or property on a claim arising 15
out of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus from the 16
infected employee to another employee or to any other person, 17
unless the transmission occurs as a result of the reckless ..... 18
conduct of the employer.
from liability to any person in a civil action for damages for 14
injury, death, or loss to person or property on a claim arising 15
out of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus from the 16
infected employee to another employee or to any other person, 17
unless the transmission occurs as a result of the reckless ..... 18
conduct of the employer.
(C)
An employer is immune from liability to an employee on ..... 20
a claim asserted under any provision of the Revised Code or in a ..... 21
civil action for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or ..... 22
property if the claim arises from an illness or injury to the ..... 23
employee that is stress-related and results from the employee ..... 24
being required to work with an individual who has received a ..... 25
positive result on an HIV test or has been diagnosed as having ..... 26
AIDS or an AIDS-related condition.
a claim asserted under any provision of the Revised Code or in a ..... 21
civil action for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or ..... 22
property if the claim arises from an illness or injury to the ..... 23
employee that is stress-related and results from the employee ..... 24
being required to work with an individual who has received a ..... 25
positive result on an HIV test or has been diagnosed as having ..... 26
AIDS or an AIDS-related condition.
Sec. 4112.01.
(A)
As used in this chapter:
(1)
"Person" includes one or more individuals, ..... 29
partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, legal ..... 30
representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, ..... 31
and other organized groups of persons. "Person" also includes, ..... 32
but is not limited to, any owner, lessor, assignor, builder, ..... 33
manager, broker, salesperson, appraiser, agent, employee, ..... 34
lending institution, and the state and all political ..... 35
subdivisions, authorities, agencies, boards, and commissions of ..... 36
the state.
partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, legal ..... 30
representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, ..... 31
and other organized groups of persons. "Person" also includes, ..... 32
but is not limited to, any owner, lessor, assignor, builder, ..... 33
manager, broker, salesperson, appraiser, agent, employee, ..... 34
lending institution, and the state and all political ..... 35
subdivisions, authorities, agencies, boards, and commissions of ..... 36
the state.
(2)
"Employer" means the state, any political subdivision ..... 38
of the state, or a person employing four or more persons within ..... 39
the state, and any agent of the state, political subdivision, or ..... 40
person.
of the state, or a person employing four or more persons within ..... 39
the state, and any agent of the state, political subdivision, or ..... 40
person.
(3)
"Employee" means an individual employed by any ..... 42
employer but does not include any individual employed in the ..... 43
domestic service of any person. "Employee" includes an ..... 44
individual who performs unpaid work for an employer for the ..... 45
primary purpose of acquiring knowledge or experience relevant to ..... 46
the individual's career aspirations. ..... 47
employer but does not include any individual employed in the ..... 43
domestic service of any person. "Employee" includes an ..... 44
individual who performs unpaid work for an employer for the ..... 45
primary purpose of acquiring knowledge or experience relevant to ..... 46
the individual's career aspirations. ..... 47
(4)
"Labor organization" includes any organization that
exists, in whole or in part, for the purpose of collective ..... 49
bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, ..... 50
terms or conditions of employment, or other mutual aid or ..... 51
protection in relation to employment. ..... 52
exists, in whole or in part, for the purpose of collective ..... 49
bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, ..... 50
terms or conditions of employment, or other mutual aid or ..... 51
protection in relation to employment. ..... 52
(5)
"Employment agency" includes any person regularly ..... 53
undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure ..... 54
opportunities to work or to procure, recruit, refer, or place ..... 55
employees. ..... 56
undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure ..... 54
opportunities to work or to procure, recruit, refer, or place ..... 55
employees. ..... 56
(6)
"Commission" means the Ohio civil rights commission ..... 57
created by section 4112.03 of the Revised Code. ..... 58
created by section 4112.03 of the Revised Code. ..... 58
(7)
"Discriminate" includes segregate or separate. ..... 59
(8)
"Unlawful discriminatory practice" means any act ..... 60
prohibited by section 4112.02, 4112.021, or 4112.022 of the ..... 61
Revised Code. ..... 62
prohibited by section 4112.02, 4112.021, or 4112.022 of the ..... 61
Revised Code. ..... 62
(9)
"Place of public accommodation" means any inn, ..... 63
restaurant, eating house, barbershop, public conveyance by air, ..... 64
land, or water, theater, store, other place for the sale of ..... 65
merchandise, or any other place of public accommodation or ..... 66
amusement of which the accommodations, advantages, facilities, ..... 67
or privileges are available to the public. ..... 68
restaurant, eating house, barbershop, public conveyance by air, ..... 64
land, or water, theater, store, other place for the sale of ..... 65
merchandise, or any other place of public accommodation or ..... 66
amusement of which the accommodations, advantages, facilities, ..... 67
or privileges are available to the public. ..... 68
(10)
"Housing accommodations" includes any building or ..... 69
structure, or portion of a building or structure, that is used ..... 70
or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or ..... 71
occupied as the home residence, dwelling, dwelling unit, or ..... 72
sleeping place of one or more individuals, groups, or families ..... 73
whether or not living independently of each other; and any ..... 74
vacant land offered for sale or lease. "Housing accommodations" ..... 75
also includes any housing accommodations held or offered for sale or rent by a real estate broker, salesperson, or agent, by any other person pursuant to authorization of the owner, by the owner, or by the owner's legal representative.
structure, or portion of a building or structure, that is used ..... 70
or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or ..... 71
occupied as the home residence, dwelling, dwelling unit, or ..... 72
sleeping place of one or more individuals, groups, or families ..... 73
whether or not living independently of each other; and any ..... 74
vacant land offered for sale or lease. "Housing accommodations" ..... 75
also includes any housing accommodations held or offered for sale or rent by a real estate broker, salesperson, or agent, by any other person pursuant to authorization of the owner, by the owner, or by the owner's legal representative.
(11)
"Restrictive covenant" means any specification limiting the transfer, rental, lease, or other use of any housing accommodations because of race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, national origin, disability, or ancestry, or any limitation based upon affiliation with or approval by any person, directly or indirectly, employing race, color, religion, sex, military status, familial status, national origin, disability, or ancestry as a condition of affiliation or approval.
(12)
"Burial lot" means any lot for the burial of deceased persons within any public burial ground or cemetery, including, but not limited to, cemeteries owned and operated by municipal corporations, townships, or companies or associations incorporated for cemetery purposes.
(13)
"Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including the functions of caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working; a record of a physical or mental impairment; or being regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.
(14)
Except as otherwise provided in section 4112.021 of the Revised Code, "age" means an individual aged forty years or older.
(15)
"Familial status" means either of the following:
(a)
One or more individuals who are under eighteen years ..... 105
of age and who are domiciled with a parent or guardian having ..... 106
legal custody of the individual or domiciled, with the written ..... 107
permission of the parent or guardian having legal custody, with ..... 108
a designee of the parent or guardian; ..... 109
of age and who are domiciled with a parent or guardian having ..... 106
legal custody of the individual or domiciled, with the written ..... 107
permission of the parent or guardian having legal custody, with ..... 108
a designee of the parent or guardian; ..... 109
(b)
Any person who is pregnant or in the process of ..... 110
securing legal custody of any individual who is under eighteen ..... 111
years of age. ..... 112
securing legal custody of any individual who is under eighteen ..... 111
years of age. ..... 112
(16)
(a) Except as provided in division (A) (16) (b) of this ..... 113
section, "physical or mental impairment" includes any of the ..... 114
following:
section, "physical or mental impairment" includes any of the ..... 114
following:
(i)
Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic ..... 116
disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the ..... 117
following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special ..... 118
sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; ..... 119
cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic ..... 120
and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; ..... 121
disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the ..... 117
following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special ..... 118
sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; ..... 119
cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic ..... 120
and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; ..... 121
(ii)
Any mental or psychological disorder, including, but ..... 122
not limited to, intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, ..... 123
emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities; ..... 124
not limited to, intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, ..... 123
emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities; ..... 124
(iii)
Diseases and conditions, including, but not limited ..... 125
to, orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, ..... 126
cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple ..... 127
sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, human ..... 128
immunodeficiency virus infection, intellectual disability, ..... 129
emotional illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism. ..... 130
to, orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, ..... 126
cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple ..... 127
sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, human ..... 128
immunodeficiency virus infection, intellectual disability, ..... 129
emotional illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism. ..... 130
(b)
"Physical or mental impairment" does not include any ..... 131
of the following: ..... 132
of the following: ..... 132
(i)
Homosexuality and bisexuality; ..... 133
(ii)
Transvestism, transsexualism, pedophilia, ..... 134
exhibitionism, voyeurism, gender identity disorders not ..... 135
resulting from physical impairments, or other sexual behavior ..... 136
disorders; ..... 137
exhibitionism, voyeurism, gender identity disorders not ..... 135
resulting from physical impairments, or other sexual behavior ..... 136
disorders; ..... 137
(iii)
Compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; ..... 138
(iv)
Psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from ..... 139
the current illegal use of a controlled substance or the current ..... 140
use of alcoholic beverages. ..... 141
the current illegal use of a controlled substance or the current ..... 140
use of alcoholic beverages. ..... 141
(17)
"Dwelling unit" means a single unit of residence for ..... 142
a family of one or more persons. ..... 143
a family of one or more persons. ..... 143
(18)
"Common use areas" means rooms, spaces, or elements ..... 144
inside or outside a building that are made available for the use ..... 145
of residents of the building or their guests, and includes, but ..... 146
is not limited to, hallways, lounges, lobbies, laundry rooms, ..... 147
refuse rooms, mail rooms, recreational areas, and passageways ..... 148
among and between buildings. ..... 149
inside or outside a building that are made available for the use ..... 145
of residents of the building or their guests, and includes, but ..... 146
is not limited to, hallways, lounges, lobbies, laundry rooms, ..... 147
refuse rooms, mail rooms, recreational areas, and passageways ..... 148
among and between buildings. ..... 149
(19)
"Public use areas" means interior or exterior rooms ..... 150
or spaces of a privately or publicly owned building that are ..... 151
made available to the general public. ..... 152
or spaces of a privately or publicly owned building that are ..... 151
made available to the general public. ..... 152
(20)
"Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in ..... 153
section 3719.01 of the Revised Code. ..... 154
section 3719.01 of the Revised Code. ..... 154
(21)
"Disabled tenant" means a tenant or prospective ..... 155
tenant who is a person with a disability. ..... 156
tenant who is a person with a disability. ..... 156
(22)
"Military status" means a person's status in "service ..... 157
in the uniformed services" as defined in section 5923.05 of the ..... 158
Revised Code. ..... 159
in the uniformed services" as defined in section 5923.05 of the ..... 158
Revised Code. ..... 159
(23)
"Aggrieved person" includes both of the following: ..... 160
(a)
Any person who claims to have been injured by any ..... 161
unlawful discriminatory practice described in division (H) of162
section 4112.02 of the Revised Code; ..... 163
unlawful discriminatory practice described in division (H) of162
section 4112.02 of the Revised Code; ..... 163
(b)
Any person who believes that the person will be ..... 164
injured by any unlawful discriminatory practice described in165
division (H) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code that is ..... 166
about to occur. ..... 167
injured by any unlawful discriminatory practice described in165
division (H) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code that is ..... 166
about to occur. ..... 167
(24)
"Unlawful discriminatory practice relating to ..... 168
employment" means both of the following: ..... 169
employment" means both of the following: ..... 169
(a)
An unlawful discriminatory practice that is prohibited ..... 170
by division (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 4112.02 ..... 171
of the Revised Code; ..... 172
by division (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 4112.02 ..... 171
of the Revised Code; ..... 172
(b)
An unlawful discriminatory practice that is prohibited ..... 173
by division (I) or (J) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code ..... 174
that is related to employment. ..... 175
by division (I) or (J) of section 4112.02 of the Revised Code ..... 174
that is related to employment. ..... 175
(25)
"Notice of right to sue" means a notice sent by the ..... 176
commission to a person who files a charge under section 4112.051 ..... 177
of the Revised Code that states that the person who filed the ..... 178
charge may bring a civil action related to the charge pursuant ..... 179
to section 4112.052 or 4112.14 of the Revised Code, in ..... 180
accordance with section 4112.052 of the Revised Code. ..... 181
commission to a person who files a charge under section 4112.051 ..... 177
of the Revised Code that states that the person who filed the ..... 178
charge may bring a civil action related to the charge pursuant ..... 179
to section 4112.052 or 4112.14 of the Revised Code, in ..... 180
accordance with section 4112.052 of the Revised Code. ..... 181
(B)
For the purposes of divisions (A) to (F) of section ..... 182
4112.02 of the Revised Code, the terms "because of sex" and "on ..... 183
the basis of sex" include, but are not limited to, because of or ..... 184
on the basis of pregnancy, any illness arising out of and ..... 185
occurring during the course of a pregnancy, childbirth, or ..... 186
related medical conditions. Women affected by pregnancy, ..... 187
childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the ..... 188
same for all employment-related purposes, including receipt of ..... 189
benefits under fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so ..... 190
affected but similar in their ability or inability to work, and ..... 191
nothing in division (B) of section 4111.17 of the Revised Code ..... 192
shall be interpreted to permit otherwise. This division shall ..... 193
not be construed to require an employer to pay for health ..... 194
insurance benefits for abortion, except where the life of the ..... 195
mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or ..... 196
except where medical complications have arisen from the ..... 197
abortion, provided that nothing in this division precludes an ..... 198
employer from providing abortion benefits or otherwise affects ..... 199
bargaining agreements in regard to abortion. ..... 200
4112.02 of the Revised Code, the terms "because of sex" and "on ..... 183
the basis of sex" include, but are not limited to, because of or ..... 184
on the basis of pregnancy, any illness arising out of and ..... 185
occurring during the course of a pregnancy, childbirth, or ..... 186
related medical conditions. Women affected by pregnancy, ..... 187
childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the ..... 188
same for all employment-related purposes, including receipt of ..... 189
benefits under fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so ..... 190
affected but similar in their ability or inability to work, and ..... 191
nothing in division (B) of section 4111.17 of the Revised Code ..... 192
shall be interpreted to permit otherwise. This division shall ..... 193
not be construed to require an employer to pay for health ..... 194
insurance benefits for abortion, except where the life of the ..... 195
mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or ..... 196
except where medical complications have arisen from the ..... 197
abortion, provided that nothing in this division precludes an ..... 198
employer from providing abortion benefits or otherwise affects ..... 199
bargaining agreements in regard to abortion. ..... 200
Section 2.
That existing sections 3701.249 and 4112.01 of ..... 201
the Revised Code are hereby repealed. ..... 202
Text of HB 588 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions