5 Ohio immigration bills to know

It’s a major election year, and the Ohio legislature is about to return from their winter break. That can only mean one thing: campaign messaging bills.

The Statehouse Republican supermajority will focus on passing bills they can discuss on the campaign trail throughout 2026.

Sadly, given our current political climate, that likely means they’ll pass bills that support ICE and harm immigrants.

For example, State Rep Josh Williams is running for Congress in NW Ohio. He’s running against several MAGA Republicans for a chance to be the official candidate, including the former Deputy Director of ICE. So he’s been introducing a LOT of wreckless, inhumane anti-immigrant bills this term.

Here are five of the most dangerous Ohio immigration bills we’re following — and actions you can take to stop them:

SB 172

• STATUS: RED ALERT — This bill has already passed the Ohio Senate (See who voted for it). It’s currently sitting in the Ohio House Public Safety Committee.

• WHAT IT DOES:

  • Requires state and local public offices/officials to allow the arrest or detention of anyone who is — or is suspected of being — unlawfully present in the U.S.

  • Allows ICE arrests or detentions to happen anywhere in Ohio under almost any circumstances

  • Applies to arrests or detentions conducted by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency or officer, with or without a warrant, and regardless of whether the proceedings are administrative, civil, or criminal in nature.

  • Read the bill breakdown here

• TAKE ACTION:

  • Tell your state rep to HELP STOP SB 172, which just came over from the Senate.

    • Find your state rep by typing your address below this map

• SAMPLE SCRIPT / EMAIL:

  • Hi. My name is [NAME]. I’m asking [ELECTED OFFICIAL] to oppose SB 172.

  • This bill would allow an arrest or detention to happen anywhere in Ohio under any circumstances. Federal, state, or local law enforcement officers could arrest people with or without a warrant for nearly any reason if they claim it’s related to immigration.

  • It would be very easy for this bill to be abused or used in error. It could easily lead to the arrest of legal American residents and even citizens. We’ve already seen examples of this happening.

  • There are also very good reasons to allow the “privilege” exceptions this bill would eliminate, especially in certain public spaces.

  • For example, the court has a responsibility to ensure due process, which is hard to do when victims, witnesses, and defendants won’t come to the courthouse to testify and participate in cases because they fear arrest. Trial fairness is jeopardized, which hurts citizens as well as non-citizens.

  • I urge [ELECTED OFFICIAL] to say NO to SB 172. This bill hurts all of us.

HB 42

• STATUS: 3rd hearing in House Government Oversight Committee on 11/18/25

• WHAT IT DOES:

  • Requires many Ohio agencies to collect and report data regarding the citizenship or immigration status of people with whom they come into contact

  • Includes school districts — requires reporting on immigration status and reporting on students here “unlawfully”

  • Analysis by the Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC)

  • Bill breakdown here

• ACTIONS TO TAKE:

  • 1.) Urge your local school board to pass a resolution opposing HB 42

    • Sample resolution here

  • 2.) Tell Government Oversight Committee Chair Thomas Hall not to give HB 42 any more hearings:

    • 614) 644-5094 or rep46@ohiohouse.gov

  • 3.) Tell Committee Vice Chair Ron Ferguson to help stop HB 42:

    • 614-466-3735 or rep96@ohiohouse.gov

  • 4.) Ask these committee members to help stop HB 42:

    • Vice Chair Ron Ferguson: 614-466-3735 or rep96@ohiohouse.gov

    • Rep Justin Pizzulli: 614-466-2124 or rep90@ohiohouse.gov

    • Rep Jason Stephens: 614-466-1366 or rep93@ohiohouse.gov

• Messages to use:

  • HB 42 would require all Ohio public schools to collect and report data about their students to the federal government.

  • HB 42 would create a serious threat to student safety. How can we trust schools to protect our children if state law is forcing them to help place students at risk?

  • HB 42 would have far-reaching consequences. We are already hearing countless stories about people being mistakenly caught up in the government’s deportation push. It makes sense that many legal American families will be too afraid to send their kids to school or school activities. Children’s education and mental health will suffer.

HB 544

• STATUS: Relatively new bill. It was sent to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee on 10/29/2025

• WHAT IT DOES: Would expand the offense of obstructing justice specifically targeted at ICE arrests and punishing bystanders who try to help

• ACTIONS TO TAKE:

  • 1.) Spread the word about HB 544

  • 2.) Draft your opponent testimony now. This bill could move quickly. You’ll want to be ready to send in your testimony the moment the hearing is announced. Testimony template here.

HB 26

• STATUS: 1st hearing in House Public Safety Committee on 4/29/25

• WHAT IT DOES:

  • Would require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws

  • Would cut funding for communities that do not comply with federal immigration actions

  • Would force this bill into law immediately (emergency clause)

  • This bill is titled the “Protecting Ohio Communities Act”

  • HB 26 summary from ACLU Ohio

  • Bill breakdown here

• ACTIONS TO TAKE:

  • 1.) Spread the word about HB 26

  • 2.) Draft your opponent testimony now. This bill could move quickly. You’ll want to be ready to send in your testimony the moment the hearing is announced. Testimony template here.

HB 200

• STATUS: 1st hearing in House Public Safety Committee on Wednesday 6/11/25

• WHAT IT DOES: Enacts the “America First Act” to:

  • Ban a person who is unlawfully present in the United States from entering into or being present in Ohio

  • Require law enforcement agencies and detention facilities to actively cooperate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws

  • Punish those who refuse — Withhold state / local government funds from any county, township, or municipal corporation that does not follow this law

  • Bill breakdown here

• ACTIONS TO TAKE:

  • 1.) Tell Committee Chair Cindy Abrams not to give HB 200 any more hearings: 614-466-9091 or Rep29@OhioHouse.gov

  • 2.) Spread the word about HB 200

  • 3.) Draft your opponent testimony now. This bill could move quickly. You’ll want to be ready to send in your testimony the moment the hearing is announced. Testimony template here.