KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Ohio

HR349 • 2026

Clarify elected official right to inspect detention facilities

Clarify elected official right to inspect detention facilities

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Latyna M. Humphrey
Last action
Official status
As Introduced
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Clarify elected official right to inspect detention facilities

To make clear that state elected officials have a right to tour, inspect, and assess any detention facilities owned by the state at any time.

What This Bill Does

  • To make clear that state elected officials have a right to tour, inspect, and assess any detention facilities owned by the state at any time.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. Ohio Legislature

    As Introduced

Official Summary Text

To make clear that state elected officials have a right to tour, inspect, and assess any detention facilities owned by the state at any time.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. R. No. 349

2025-2026

Representative
Humphrey

A
R E S O L U T I O N

To
make clear that state elected officials have a right to tour,
inspect, and assess any detention facilities owned by the state at
any time.

BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

WHEREAS,
State lawmakers in New York, Florida, Nebraska, and Washington have
been denied access to state-owned detention facilities contracted to
house detainees for federal immigration purposes when the lawmakers
attempted to tour and assess the conditions of the facilities and
detainees; and

WHEREAS,
It is the long held practice in Ohio to allow state lawmakers to
visit state detention facilities to oversee operations and evaluate
conditions; and

WHEREAS,
State agencies, including the Department of Rehabilitation and
Correction and the Department of Youth Services, are created and
empowered by the legislature; and

WHEREAS,
Legislative oversight over executive agencies is central to the
foundational principle of checks and balances that the United States
and Ohio were founded on, and through monitoring and reviewing the
actions of executive agencies, the legislature ensures that these
agencies operate within the law and adhere to legislative intent; and

WHEREAS,
Sections 103.13, 103.23, and 126.06 of the Revised Code, Chapter 106.
of the Revised Code, and Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 22,
all demonstrate the legislature's role as the final decision-maker
for the operations of executive agencies; and

WHEREAS,
Permitting elected officials to visit state detention facilities is
necessary to allow the legislature to fulfill its role as final
decision-maker in the operation of executive agencies; and

WHEREAS,
Permitting elected officials to visit state detention facilities
promotes the values of transparency and accountability for
institutions that house politically disenfranchised Ohioans; now
therefore be it

RESOLVED,
That state elected officials have a right, given to them by the Ohio
Constitution and the people of Ohio who elect them, to tour, inspect,
and assess any detention facilities owned by the state, with any
notice or no notice at all; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly
authenticated copies of this resolution to the news media of Ohio.