Require amusement parks provide real-time ride operation status

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 488

2025-2026

Representative Brennan

Cosponsors: Representatives White,
E., Brownlee

To
enact sections 993.15 and 993.16 of the Revised Code
to
require an amusement park operator to implement and maintain a system
that publicly communicates the real-time operational status of each
of its amusement rides.

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

Section
1.
That
sections 993.15 and 993.16 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:

Sec.
993.15.
(A)
As used in this section and section 993.16 of the Revised Code:

(1)
"Amusement park" means a fixed-site amusement facility open
to the public for a defined or seasonal period each year that
contains amusement rides that are inspected by the department of
agriculture under this chapter.

(2)
"Ride status" means the operational condition of an
amusement ride at any given time.

(3)
"Real-time" means within five minutes of a change in an
amusement ride's operational status.

(B)(1)
An owner or operator of an amusement park shall implement and
maintain a system that publicly communicates the real-time ride
status of each amusement ride on the park's premises during the
park's operating hours. Such ride status shall specify one of the
following:

(a)
That the amusement ride is operational to indicate that the ride is
open and functioning;

(b)
That the amusement ride is temporarily closed to indicate that the
ride is not operating due to mechanical issues, weather, staffing
issues, or other temporary causes;

(c)
That the amusement ride is under maintenance to indicate that the
ride is closed for mechanical work or inspection;

(d)
Any other ride status that specifies that the amusement ride is
closed and clearly indicates the reason for such closure.

(2)
The owner or operator, when implementing and maintaining a real-time
ride status communication system, shall ensure that the public may
access the ride status of each amusement ride on the amusement park's
premise, at a minimum, by doing both of the following:

(a)
Installing and maintaining digital signage that depicts the ride
status of each such amusement ride at or near the entrance to the
amusement park and at the entrance of each amusement ride;

(b)
Displaying the ride status of each such amusement ride on the
amusement park's web site, any social media platforms, and any mobile
application maintained by the owners or operators of the amusement
park.

Such
signage and electronic displays shall be updated in real-time to
reflect an amusement ride's ride status.

(C)
No owner or operator of an amusement park shall violate division (B)
of this section or rules adopted under section 993.16 of the Revised
Code.

(D)
Whoever violates division (C) of this section is subject to the
following administrative penalties:

(1)
A warning for a first violation;

(2)
A civil fine of ten thousand dollars per day for each subsequent
violation;

(3)
Any additional corrective actions specified in rules adopted under
section 993.16 of the Revised Code.

Sec.
993.16.
Not
later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this
section, the director of agriculture shall adopt rules in accordance
with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement and enforce
section 993.15 of the Revised Code, including provisions for
inspections and compliance monitoring.

Section
2.
Section
993.15 of the Revised Code takes effect one year after the effective
date of this section.