Prohibit financing the purchase of a dog or cat

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 620

2025-2026

Representatives McNally, Grim

Cosponsors: Representatives Brennan,
Upchurch

A
BILL

To
amend section 1321.44 and to enact sections 1317.081, 1321.142,
1321.412, 1321.593, and 1321.633 of the Revised Code
to
prohibit financing the purchase of a dog or cat.

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

Section
1.
That
section 1321.44 be amended and sections 1317.081, 1321.142, 1321.412,
1321.593, and 1321.633 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:

Sec.
1317.081.
No
retail seller shall make a retail installment sale for the purchase
of a dog or cat. Any retail installment sale made in violation of
this section is void, and the seller has no right to collect,
receive, or retain any principal, interest, or charges related to the
sale and has no security interest in the dog or cat.

Sec.
1321.142.
(A)
No licensee shall make a loan for the purchase, lease, or
lease-purchase of a dog or cat.

(B)
Any loan made in violation of this prohibition is void, and the
licensee has no right to collect, receive, or retain any principal,
interest, or charges related to the loan and has no security interest
in the dog or cat.

(C)
A violation of this section is deemed an unfair or deceptive act or
practice in violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. A
borrower injured by a violation of this section shall have a cause of
action and be entitled to the same relief available to a consumer
under section 1345.09 of the Revised Code, and all powers and
remedies available to the attorney general to enforce sections
1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code are available to the attorney
general to enforce this section.

(D)
The superintendent of financial institutions or a borrower may bring
directly an action to enjoin a violation of this section. The
prosecuting attorney of the county in which the action may be brought
may bring an action to enjoin a violation of this section only if the
prosecuting attorney first presents any evidence of the violation to
the attorney general and, within a reasonable period of time, the
attorney general has not agreed to bring the action.

Sec.
1321.412.
No
licensee shall make a loan for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase
of a dog or cat. Any loan made in violation of this prohibition is
void, and the licensee has no right to collect, receive, or retain
any principal, interest, or charges related to the loan and has no
security interest in the dog or cat.

Sec.
1321.44.
(A)
A violation of section 1321.41
or
1321.412
of
the Revised Code is deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice in
violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. A borrower injured
by a violation of section 1321.41

or

1321.412

of
the Revised Code shall have a cause of action and be entitled to the
same relief available to a consumer under section 1345.09 of the
Revised Code, and all powers and remedies available to the attorney
general to enforce sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code
are available to the attorney general to enforce section 1321.41

or 1321.412

of the Revised Code.

(B)
The superintendent of financial institutions or a borrower may bring
directly an action to enjoin a violation of sections 1321.35 to
1321.48 of the Revised Code. The prosecuting attorney of the county
in which the action may be brought may bring an action to enjoin a
violation of sections 1321.35 to 1321.48 of the Revised Code only if
the prosecuting attorney first presents any evidence of the violation
to the attorney general and, within a reasonable period of time, the
attorney general has not agreed to bring the action.

(C)
The superintendent may initiate criminal proceedings under sections
1321.35 to 1321.48 of the Revised Code by presenting any evidence of
criminal violation to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which
the offense may be prosecuted. If the prosecuting attorney does not
prosecute the violations, or at the request of the prosecuting
attorney, the superintendent shall present any evidence of criminal
violations to the attorney general, who may proceed in the
prosecution with all the rights, privileges, and powers conferred by
law on prosecuting attorneys, including the power to appear before
grand juries and to interrogate witnesses before such grand juries.
These powers of the attorney general are in addition to any other
applicable powers of the attorney general.

(D)
The prosecuting attorney of the county in which an alleged offense
may be prosecuted may initiate criminal proceedings under sections
1321.35 to 1321.48 of the Revised Code.

(E)
In order to initiate criminal proceedings under sections 1321.35 to
1321.48 of the Revised Code, the attorney general first shall present
any evidence of criminal violations to the prosecuting attorney of
the county in which the alleged offense may be prosecuted. If, within
a reasonable period of time, the prosecuting attorney has not agreed
to prosecute the violations, the attorney general may proceed in the
prosecution with all the rights, privileges, and powers described in
division (B) of this section.

(F)
When a judgment under this section becomes final, the clerk of court
shall mail a copy of the judgment, including supporting opinions, to
the superintendent.

Sec.
1321.593.
No
registrant shall make a loan for the purchase, lease, or
lease-purchase of a dog or cat. Any loan made in violation of this
prohibition is void, and the registrant has no right to collect,
receive, or retain any principal, interest, or charges related to the
loan and has no security interest in the dog or cat.

Sec.
1321.633.
No
licensee shall make a loan for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase
of a dog or cat. Any loan made in violation of this prohibition is
void, and the licensee has no right to collect, receive, or retain
any principal, interest, or charges related to the loan and has no
security interest in the dog or cat.

Section
2.
That
existing section 1321.44 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.