OTSE Action Fund

OTSE Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization whose work is focused on educating the general public, policymakers, lawmakers and interested parties about the need for reform to Ohio’s death penalty system.

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OTSE Action Fund advocates for changes to Ohio’s death penalty due to the fundamental unfairness and inaccuracy of Ohio’s current death penalty law; specifically, OTSE Action Fund supports the following legislation pending in the Ohio legislature because, if enacted, these measures may bring increased fairness and accuracy to Ohio’s capital punishment system:

House Bill 259 — 2023-2024

Introduced in September 2023 with historic bipartisan support, this bill would end the death penalty in Ohio. It would repeal all mention of the death penalty from current provisions of Ohio law and increase funds for crime survivors. If enacted, a death sentence would no longer be available for any offenses committed after the effective date. The bill has been referred to the House Finance Committee, where it has had two hearings. See Bill Information

Senate Bill 101 — 2023-2024

Introduced in March 2023 with historic bipartisan support, this bill would end the death penalty in Ohio. It would repeal all mention of the death penalty from current provisions of Ohio law. If enacted, a death sentence would no longer be available for any offenses committed after the effective date. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it has had two hearings. See Bill Information

Senate Bill 103 — 2021-2022

Introduced in March 2021 with bipartisan support, this bill would repeal all mention of the death penalty from current provisions of Ohio law. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the sponsors presented the bill at a committee hearing on March 31, 2021. On June 16, 2021, proponents of the bill testified at a hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee, making the case for repeal to lawmakers in the Senate. By the end of the 134th General Assembly in December 2022, the bill had not passed. See Bill Information

House Bill 183 — 2021-2022

Introduced in March 2021 with bipartisan support, this bill would repeal all mention of the death penalty from current provisions of Ohio law. If enacted, a death sentence would no longer be available for any offenses committed after the effective date. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Criminal Justice, and the sponsors presented the bill at a committee hearing on May 26, 2021. Proponents, opponents, and interested parties had hearings in September and November 2021 as well as March 2022. By the end of the 134th General Assembly in December 2022, the bill had not passed. See Bill Information

House Bill 136 — 2019-2020

Introduced in March 2019, this bill would prevent a death sentence for individuals who suffered from serious mental illness at the time of the crime. In June 2019, the Ohio House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 76-18. In December 2020, the Ohio Senate passed it 27-3. In January 2021, Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill into law. It will become effective on April 12, 2021. See Bill Information