COLUMBUS, OH — A new bipartisan law will bring added transparency to Ohio’s parole process by requiring all state Parole Board hearings to be electronically recorded.
State Representative Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) announced that Governor Mike DeWine has signed House Bill 31 into law. Stewart jointly sponsored the legislation alongside State Representative Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus).
Under the new law, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) must electronically record all parole board proceedings and make those recordings available upon request to the public, inmates, attorneys, and victims’ families. Previously, the board was not required to keep audio or video records of its hearings, restricting the ability of interested parties to review how decisions were made or pursue appeals.
“This legislation is something I have been working on since I became a State Representative. This mandates transparency and alignment of parole board hearings to other court proceedings without jeopardizing the privacy of victims,” said Rep. Stewart. “As the Parole Board decides whether to release prisoners back into our communities or keep them in prison, Ohioans deserve to have a record of how those decisions were made.”
To safeguard victims and their families, HB 31 includes specific privacy protections. All recordings provided by the ODRC are required to remain confidential and cannot be copied or uploaded to the internet. Furthermore, any personally identifiable information—such as names, contact details, Social Security numbers, or specific details regarding victims and their immediate family members—must be redacted or excluded from the recordings.
With the Governor’s signature, House Bill 31 is officially enrolled and will take effect following the standard statutory waiting period.
