Schmidt's Voyeurism Legislation Added to Senate Bill, Clears Legislature

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate today passed legislation that aims to improve voyeurism laws to better ensure the privacy of Ohioans. 

Schmidt first introduced these provisions in House Bill 406. She successfully amended the bill into Senate Bill 16 in the House Criminal Justice Committee earlier this week.

“We must work to ensure that every Ohioan’s privacy is protected,” said bill sponsor State Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). “When the right to privacy is violated, people should be able to count on the perpetrator being brought to justice. We’re faced with a loophole that can make prosecuting for the crime difficult and we cannot wait any longer to take action.”

To align the offense with steaming and broadcasting technology, the legislation will: 

• Update the list of methods for videotaping and photographing to include streaming and broadcasting; and
• Eliminate a clause in two sections requiring the act be committed for the purpose of sexual gratification to broaden the scope for persons to be charged, thus creating a more secure expectation of privacy.

S.B. 16 now heads to the Governor to be signed.