Ohio House Leads on Bill Ensuring Further Protections for Dating Violence Victims

COLUMBUS—State Representative Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) today applauded the Ohio House’s passage of legislation he jointly sponsored that provides intimate partner violence victims with further protections under Ohio law. 

As the first bill introduced in the 132nd General Assembly, House Bill 1, jointly sponsored by State Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron), allows individuals who were harmed by an intimate partner, or someone they are dating, to obtain a civil protective order against their attacker. Ohio is one of only two states in the nation that does not offer this protection, and today the Ohio House took steps to ensure that these victims have the resources needed to protect themselves.

“Due to the risk of ongoing violence in these dating relationships, it is important that all victims of abuse have the resources to protect themselves,” said Manning. “This is bipartisan, meaningful legislation that will unequivocally have a positive effect on victims’ lives.  Many people argue that a piece of paper is not going to protect someone from harm, but studies have shown that violence stops completely or is significantly reduced when a protection order is in place.”

House Bill 1 would allow victims of dating violence to petition the court for a civil protection order. Under current law, committed relationships in which the individuals do not reside in the same home or share a child in common are not covered under the law. However, this bill allows vulnerable victims in these instances to file for a protection order similar to protection orders pertaining to domestic violence. By updating the statute, Ohio is taking steps to protect victims of abuse in dating situations and to prevent future harm.

House Bill 1 will now head to the Senate for further consideration.