Ohio bill waives ID, birth certificate fees for homeless

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A bipartisan bill that would eliminate fees for state IDs and birth certificates for Ohioans experiencing homelessness is headed to the House floor after clearing its committee last week.

House Bill 472, sponsored by Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar), passed out of the House Children and Human Services Committee on Nov. 19 after four hearings since its introduction in September.

Cockley told lawmakers during the bill’s first hearing on Oct. 21 that the legislation aims to remove a basic but consequential barrier for people experiencing homelessness. She described meeting a homeless man who was unable to get work because he lacked identification documents.

“He had no place to stay, and he desperately wanted to work, but he could not get a job because he had no ID or birth certificate,” Cockley said. “Without those documents, he could not move forward, no matter how hard he tried.”

Cockley said the bill would “eliminate all fees for state ID cards and certified birth certificates for individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” calling the documents “a basic necessity for navigating the world and accessing vital services.”

At the same hearing, Salvo said obtaining identification remains a “catch-22” for many unsheltered Ohioans. “You can’t earn money without these documents, yet you need money to obtain them,” she said.

Salvo noted that while Ohio already waives some ID costs for homeless adults, minors face the same barriers with fewer resources. “This bill ensures they, too, can access these critical identification documents without cost,” she said. By waiving fees for both documents across age groups, she added, the legislation “creates a consistent, compassionate standard across our state.”

During a Nov. 4 hearing, advocates told lawmakers the bill would remove a fundamental obstacle to employment, housing and access to services.

Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said more than 1.2 million Ohioans now spend more than half their income on housing, pushing more residents toward homelessness. She told lawmakers that losing an ID is “a minor inconvenience” for most people, but “for someone without a home, it can mean being locked out of society.”

“Waiving these fees allows people to participate fully in our economy and our society,” Riegel said. “The administrative costs to the state and local governments are minimal compared to the benefits.”

Riegel said that the bill would especially help young people aging out of foster care or fleeing unsafe homes. “These young Ohioans are often trapped in legal limbo due to a requirement for a parent’s signature to obtain an ID,” she said.

Steve Skovensky, chief system effectiveness officer for the Community Shelter Board, said access to ID documents is “often taken for granted, yet they are the keys that unlock housing.”

“Even small fees can create insurmountable financial barriers for those who have nothing in their pocket but the urgency to survive,” Skovensky said. He called H.B. 472 “a huge step” toward stabilizing lives and reducing barriers that prolong homelessness. “No one should be prevented from getting housing because they cannot afford a document proving who they are,” he said.

Faith leaders also voiced support. Marsha Forson, an associate director with the Catholic Conference of Ohio, testified on Nov. 13 that the bill aligns with the church’s mission to uplift marginalized communities.

“This bill recognizes the human dignity of the poor by taking into account the harsh daily realities they face and responding with a concrete solution,” Forson said. She added that waiving document fees “helps to reincorporate an individual into the life of the community,” and could produce “longer-term fiscal benefits for the state.”

If approved by the Ohio House, H.B. 472 would move to the Ohio Senate for consideration. View the legislation below.