Skip to main content
State Seal State Seal State Seal
Home Button Home Button Home Button
 
 
 

Governor DeWine Signs Bill to Increase Penalties for OVI and Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

January 10, 2025
Kevin D. Miller News

COLUMBUS – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signs House ouse Bill 37, known as Liv’s Law, into law. This legislation will raise the penalty for Aggravated Vehicular Homicides committed by drunk drivers. The legislation was spearheaded by State Reps. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark).

Liv’s Law is named after Ohio native Olivia Wright, whose life was cut short as a victim of drunk driving. House Bill 37 will create an appropriate penalty for those who commit the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide and have also previously been convicted of an OVI-related offense as well as establishes the ability for law enforcement to use oral fluid testing for the purposes of OVI enforcement. The legislation is specifically designed to address repeat offenders whose behavior has resulted in the death of another person. This legislation does not make changes to current law for first time offenders. 

“A constituent, Bryan Wright, brought this issue to my desk after losing his daughter, Olivia, to a drunk driver,” said Johnson. “He pointed out to me how weak Ohio’s laws are compared to other states in the nation, and that is what inspired me to work on this legislation in an attempt to try and deter any drunk driver from becoming a repeat offender.”

“HB37 moves us closer to protecting Ohioans from individuals with repeated OVI convictions,” said Miller. “I’m grateful to my colleagues in both the House and Senate for supporting this important legislation, which sends a strong message to deter impaired driving and keep our roads safer.”

Liv’s Law will take effect in 90 days.