Miller, Creech to Introduce Legislation Expanding Opportunities to Register as an Organ Donor

COLUMBUS –State Representatives Kevin Miller (R-Newark) and Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) will soon introduce legislation that requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to ask Ohioans if they’d like to become an organ donor when applying for a hunting or fishing license.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 104,000 men, women, and children are on the national transplant waiting list, with someone added every 10 minutes.

“Nearly 2,700 Ohioans are waiting for an organ transplant procedure,” said Miller. “We have a unique opportunity to reach a large portion of our population by linking organ donor registration to hunting and fishing license applications.”

Ohio alone has over 300,000 annual applicants for hunting licenses and 850,000 annual applicants for fishing licenses.

“This legislation will ensure that potential organ donors who otherwise would not have been prompted to register are presented with the opportunity to become a donor,” said Creech.

The legislation awaits a bill number and committee assignment.