Ohio 136th General Assembly Status: Introduced 1 D cosponsors

HB 688 — Prohibit employment application question re: criminal background

Last action — Referred to committee

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 10, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill prohibits private employers from asking about an applicant's criminal background on job applications.

The bill aims to prevent private employers from including questions about criminal history on employment applications. This change is intended to help applicants with criminal backgrounds seek employment without bias.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means workers with criminal histories could have better opportunities for employment.
  • Small Business: Small businesses may need to adjust their hiring practices to comply with the new application standards.

Summary

To enact section 4113.87 of the Revised Code to prohibit private employers from including on an employment application any question concerning the criminal background of the applicant.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. As Introduced

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 133 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (133)

133 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 688 do?
To enact section 4113.87 of the Revised Code to prohibit private employers from including on an employment application any question concerning the criminal background of the applicant.
Who sponsors HB 688?
HB 688 is sponsored by Desiree Tims (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 688?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 10, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 688?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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