Read the full stored bill text
hb441_02_PH
As Passed by the House
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
Am. H. B. No. 441
2025-2026
Representatives Stewart, Mathews, A.
Cosponsors: Representatives Williams,
Bird, Brennan, Gross, Hall, T., Odioso, Peterson, Rogers, Sigrist,
Thomas, C., White, A., Willis, Young
To
amend section 2305.11 of the Revised Code
to
increase
the limitations period from one year to four years for libel or
slander and
provide
that for purposes of the
four-year
limitations
period for libel or slander, the cause of action starts from
publication of the libelous matter or when the slanderous words were
spoken, regardless of when the aggrieved party discovered the
libelous matter or slanderous words.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 2305.11 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec.
2305.11.
(A)
An action for
libel,
slander,
malicious
prosecution
,
or false imprisonment, an action for malpractice other than an action
upon a medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic claim, an action
for legal malpractice against an attorney or a law firm or legal
professional association, or an action upon a statute for a penalty
or forfeiture shall be commenced within one year after the cause of
action accrued, provided that an action by an employee for the
payment of unpaid minimum wages, unpaid overtime compensation, or
liquidated damages by reason of the nonpayment of minimum wages or
overtime compensation shall be commenced within two years after the
cause of action accrued.
(B)
(B)(1)
An action for libel or slander shall be commenced within
four
years
after
the cause of action accrues.
(2)
A cause of action for libel accrues from the date of publication of
the alleged libelous matter, regardless of when the aggrieved person
knew of, or discovered, the alleged libelous matter or regardless of
when the aggrieved party reasonably should have known of, or
discovered, the alleged libelous matter. Each publication of the
alleged libelous matter gives rise to a new limitations period.
(3)
A cause of action for slander accrues from the date the alleged
slanderous words were spoken, regardless of when the aggrieved person
knew of, or discovered, the alleged slanderous words or regardless of
when the aggrieved party reasonably should have known of, or
discovered, the alleged slanderous words.
(C)
A
civil action for unlawful abortion pursuant to section 2919.12 of the
Revised Code, a civil action authorized by division (H) of section
2317.56 of the Revised Code, a civil action pursuant to division (B)
of section 2307.52 of the Revised Code for terminating or attempting
to terminate a human pregnancy after viability in violation of
division (A) of section 2919.17 of the Revised Code, and a civil
action for terminating or attempting to terminate a human pregnancy
of a pain-capable unborn child in violation of division (E) of
section 2919.201 of the Revised Code shall be commenced within one
year after the performance or inducement of the abortion or within
one year after the attempt to perform or induce the abortion in
violation of division (A) of section 2919.17 of the Revised Code or
division (E) of section 2919.201 of the Revised Code.
(C)
(D)
As
used in this section, "medical claim," "dental claim,"
"optometric claim," and "chiropractic claim" have
the same meanings as in section 2305.113 of the Revised Code.
Section
2.
That
existing section 2305.11 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.