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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 695
2025-2026
Representatives Bird, Stewart
To
enact sections 305.44
,
505.96
,
731.142, and 733.241 of the Revised Code
to
prohibit certain local elected officials from entering into
nondisclosure agreements.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections 305.44
,
505.96
,
731.142, and 733.241 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec.
305.44.
(A)
As used in this section, "nondisclosure agreement" means an
agreement or contract that includes a provision or clause that
prohibits a member of the board of county commissioners from
disclosing, discussing, describing, or commenting on county matters
related to the member's official duties.
(B)
No member of a board of county commissioners shall knowingly enter
into a nondisclosure agreement.
(C)
A member who violates this section is subject to a civil fine of not
more than one thousand dollars. The attorney general may bring an
action to collect the fine.
(D)
An agreement or contract entered into in violation of this section is
void and unenforceable.
Sec.
505.96.
(A)
As used in this section, "nondisclosure agreement" means an
agreement or contract that includes a provision or clause that
prohibits a member of the board of township trustees from disclosing,
discussing, describing, or commenting on township matters related to
the member's official duties.
(B)
No member of a board of township trustees shall knowingly enter into
a nondisclosure agreement.
(C)
A member who violates this section is subject to a civil fine of not
more than one thousand dollars. The attorney general may bring an
action to collect the fine.
(D)
An agreement or contract entered into in violation of this section is
void and unenforceable.
Sec.
731.142.
(A)
As used in this section, "nondisclosure agreement" means an
agreement or contract that includes a provision or clause that
prohibits a member of the village legislative authority from
disclosing, discussing, describing, or commenting on village matters
related to the member's official duties.
(B)
No member of a village legislative authority shall knowingly enter
into a nondisclosure agreement.
(C)
A member who violates this section is subject to a civil fine of not
more than one thousand dollars. The attorney general may bring an
action to collect the fine.
(D)
An agreement or contract entered into in violation of this section is
void and unenforceable.
Sec.
733.241.
(A)
As used in this section, "nondisclosure agreement" means an
agreement or contract that includes a provision or clause that
prohibits the village mayor from disclosing, discussing, describing,
or commenting on village matters related to the mayor's official
duties.
(B)
No village mayor shall knowingly enter into a nondisclosure
agreement.
(C)
A village mayor who violates this section is subject to a civil fine
of not more than one thousand dollars. The attorney general may bring
an action to collect the fine.
(D)
An agreement or contract entered into in violation of this section is
void and unenforceable.
Section
2.
Sections
305.44, 505.96, 731.142, and 733.241 of the Revised Code as enacted
by this act apply to a nondisclosure agreement that is entered into,
amended, extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this
section.