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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 623
2025-2026
Representatives Abdullahi, Cockley
Cosponsors: Representatives Sigrist,
Lett, Upchurch, Brent, McNally
To
amend
sections
1329.29 and
1329.99
and to enact sections 341.03, 753.022, 1329.291, 3313.8110, 3722.20,
5119.335, and 5120.101 of the Revised Code
to
require the provision of religious dietary food options in school
districts, hospitals, and correctional facilities and to prohibit the
misrepresentation of halal foods.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections
1329.29 and
1329.99
be amended and sections 341.03, 753.022, 1329.291, 3313.8110,
3722.20, 5119.335, and 5120.101 of the Revised Code be enacted to
read as follows:
Sec.
341.03.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"County correctional facility" has the same meaning as in
section 341.42 of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Religious dietary food options" means meals that meet
specific food and food preparation techniques that satisfy religious
dietary requirements.
(B)
Each county correctional facility shall accommodate the mandatory
dietary requirements of a recognized religion practiced by an inmate
by offering religious dietary food options.
Sec.
753.022.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)"Municipal
correctional facility" has the same meaning as in section 753.32
of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Religious dietary food options" means meals that meet
specific food and food preparation techniques that satisfy religious
dietary requirements.
(B)
Each municipal correctional facility shall accommodate the mandatory
dietary requirements of a recognized religion practiced by an inmate
by offering religious dietary food options.
Sec.
1329.29.
(A)
As
used in this section, "kosher" means supervised, prepared
under, and maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs
of the Jewish religion, including the laws and customs of shechita
requiring the slaughter of animals according to appropriate Jewish
law, and in compliance with the strictest standards of Jewish law as
expressed by reliable, recognized Jewish entities and Jewish rabbis.
(B)
No
person shall do any of the following:
(1)
Sell or expose for sale at retail, or manufacture, any meat or meat
preparations or any fowl or preparations from fowl and falsely
represent the same to be "kosher" or as having been
prepared under, and of a product or products sanctioned by, the
Orthodox Hebrew religious requirements;
(2)
Falsely represent any food products or the contents of any package or
container to be constituted and prepared as described in division
(A)(1)
(B)(1)
of this section by having or permitting to be inscribed thereon
"kosher," "kosher style," "kosher type,"
"kosher for passover," "Jewish," or "Hebrew"
in any language, or have "kosher," "kosher style,"
"kosher type," "kosher for passover," "Jewish,"
or "Hebrew" inscribed on the front of any retail business
establishment in any language except the terms "Jewish,"
"Hebrew," "kosher style," or "kosher type"
may be used on packages or containers only if the packages or
containers are also marked "nonkosher" in easily readable
print;
(3)
Sell or expose for sale at retail in the same place of business both
kosher and nonkosher meat or meat preparations either raw or prepared
for human consumption unless
he
the
person
indicates on
his
the
person's
window signs and all display advertising in block letters at least
four inches in height, "kosher and nonkosher food served here."
However, if the person sells only kosher meat or kosher meat
preparations that are prepackaged for sale,
he
the
person
is exempt from this division.
(4)
Make any direct statement, either orally or in writing, display the
words "kosher," "kosher style," "kosher
type," "kosher for passover," "Jewish," or
"Hebrew" in any language, or display any insignia,
six-pointed star, or other mark that might reasonably be calculated
to deceive or lead a reasonable person to believe a product is
"kosher" or sanctioned by Orthodox Hebrew religious
requirements, if it is not.
(B)
(C)
All prepackaged meats and poultry sold or exposed for sale at retail
as "kosher" shall be soaked and salted. All other fresh
meats and poultry sold or exposed for sale at retail as "kosher"
shall be marked, on the label when packaged or by a sign when not
packaged, with the words "soaked and salted" or "not
soaked and salted," whichever is applicable. All advertisements
for food or food products sold or exposed for sale as "kosher"
under rabbinical supervision must identify the name of the rabbi or
organization, if any, that certified the food or food products as
being "kosher."
(C)
(D)
Any retailer who, at the end of the business day on the effective
date of this amendment, has in
his
the
retailer's
inventory products that are not "kosher" but are marked
"kosher style," "kosher type," "kosher for
passover," "Jewish," or "Hebrew" may
continue to sell those products if
he
the
retailer
marks them "nonkosher" either on their labels or on display
advertising in block letters at least four inches in height.
(D)
(E)
The department of agriculture shall enforce this section and for such
purpose any person designated by the department may enter upon
premises where food represented to be kosher is sold or exposed for
sale, at any reasonable time during business hours to inspect such
food.
Whenever
the department determines that a person is violating this section and
has received no previous warning under this section, it shall issue a
warning to that person specifying what actions
he
the
person
needs to take in order to comply with this section and notifying
him
the
person
that
he
the
person
has ten days after
his
receipt of the warning to take those actions. If, at the end of the
ten-day period, the department determines that the person still is
not in compliance with this section, the violator is subject to
strict criminal liability, as provided in division (B) of section
2901.21 of the Revised Code.
If
a person has received a previous warning under this section or has
been found in violation of this section,
he
the
person
shall receive no warning under this division concerning subsequent
noncompliance with this section and is subject to strict criminal
liability, as provided in division (B) of section 2901.21 of the
Revised Code. No action may be maintained against a retail seller for
a violation of this section unless:
(1)
He
The
retail seller
fails to comply with a warning issued under division
(D)
(E)
of this section; or
(2)
He
The
retail seller
had actual knowledge or should have had knowledge that the product
offered for sale did not comply with this section.
Sec.
1329.291.
(A)
As used in this section, "halal" means prepared under and
maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the
Islamic religion including the laws and customs of zabiha or zabeeha,
slaughtered according to appropriate Islamic code, and as expressed
by reliable, recognized Islamic entities and scholars.
(B)
No person shall do any of the following:
(1)
Sell or expose for sale at retail, or manufacture, any meat or meat
preparations or any fowl or preparations from fowl and falsely
represent the same to be halal;
(2)
Falsely represent any food products or the contents of any package or
container to be constituted and prepared as described in division
(B)(1) of this section by having or permitting to be inscribed
thereon "halal," "Muslim," or "Islam"
in any language, or having "halal," "Muslim," or
"Islam" inscribed on the front of any retail business
establishment in any language;
(3)
Sell or expose for sale at retail in the same place of business both
halal and nonhalal meat or meat preparations either raw or prepared
for human consumption unless indicated on window signs and all
display advertising in block letters at least four inches in height,
"halal and nonhalal food served here." A person who sells
only halal meat or halal meat preparations that are prepackaged for
sale is exempt from this division.
(4)
Make any direct statement, either orally or in writing, display the
words "halal," "Muslim," or "Islam" in
any language, or display any insignia, star and crescent, or other
mark that might reasonably be calculated to deceive or lead a
reasonable person to believe a product is halal if it is not.
(C)
The department of agriculture shall enforce this section and for such
purpose any person designated by the department may enter upon
premises where food represented to be halal is sold or exposed for
sale, at any reasonable time during business hours to inspect such
food.
Whenever
the department determines that a person is violating this section and
has received no previous warning under this section, it shall issue a
warning to that person specifying what actions that person needs to
take to comply with this section and notifying that person that there
is a ten-day period after receipt of the warning to take those
actions. If, at the end of the ten-day period, the department
determines that the person still is not in compliance with this
section, the violator is subject to strict criminal liability, as
provided in division (B) of section 2901.21 of the Revised Code.
If
a person has received a previous warning under this section or has
been found in violation of this section, that person shall receive no
warning under this division concerning subsequent noncompliance with
this section and is subject to strict criminal liability, as provided
in division (B) of section 2901.21 of the Revised Code. No action may
be maintained against a retail seller for a violation of this section
unless:
(1)
The retail seller fails to comply with a warning issued under
division (C) of this section;
(2)
The retail seller had actual knowledge or should have had knowledge
that the product offered for sale did not comply with this section.
Sec.
1329.99.
(A)
Whoever violates section 1329.26 or 1329.27 of the Revised Code shall
be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
(B)
Whoever violates section 1329.29
or 1329.291
of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more
than five hundred dollars.
(C)
Whoever violates section 1329.30 of the Revised Code shall be fined
not less than one nor more than twenty-five dollars.
(D)
Whoever violates section 1329.31, 1329.32, or 1329.33 of the Revised
Code shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than fifty
dollars for a first offense; for each subsequent offense such person
shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars.
(E)
Whoever violates sections 1329.41 to 1329.53, inclusive, of the
Revised Code, shall be fined not less than ten nor more than fifty
dollars or imprisoned not less than ten days nor more than one month,
or both, for a first offense; for each subsequent offense such person
shall be fined not less than twenty nor more than one hundred
dollars, or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than three
months, or both.
Sec.
3313.8110.
(A)
As used in this section, "religious dietary food options"
means meals that meet specific food and food preparation techniques
that satisfy religious dietary requirements.
(B)
Each school district shall offer, upon request provided with
reasonable notice, religious dietary food options that comply with
federal and state nutritional guidelines. However, a district shall
not be required to provide a religious dietary food option that
exceeds the cost of the federal reimbursement rate for a student's
meal.
Sec.
3722.20.
(A)
As used in this section, "religious dietary food options"
means meals that meet specific food and food preparation techniques
that satisfy religious dietary requirements.
(B)
Each hospital licensed under this chapter shall offer, upon request
provided with reasonable notice, at the hospital, religious dietary
food options that comply with federal and state nutritional
guidelines. After an individual submits a request for a religious
dietary food option, the hospital shall make accommodations for the
request as soon as the hospital is able to provide the meals.
(C)
The provisions of this section shall not infringe upon or affect any
obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the
effective date of this section.
Sec.
5119.335.
(A)
As used in this section, "religious dietary food options"
means meals that meet specific food and food preparation techniques
that satisfy religious dietary requirements.
(B)
Each hospital licensed by the department of mental health and
addiction services under section 5119.33 of the Revised Code shall
offer, upon request provided with reasonable notice, at the hospital,
religious dietary food options that comply with federal and state
nutritional guidelines. After an individual submits a request for a
religious dietary food option, the hospital shall make accommodations
for the request as soon as the hospital is able to provide the meals.
(C)
The provisions of this section shall not infringe upon or affect any
obligation in a contract entered into and in effect on or before the
effective date of this section.
Sec.
5120.101.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"State correctional institution" has the same meaning as in
section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.
(2)
"Religious dietary food options" means meals that meet
specific food and food preparation techniques that satisfy religious
dietary requirements.
(B)
Each state correctional institution shall accommodate the mandatory
dietary requirements of a recognized religion practiced by an inmate
by offering religious dietary food options.
Section
2.
That
existing
sections
1329.29 and
1329.99
of the Revised Code
are
hereby
repealed.