Two Ohio House Representatives have introduced legislation prohibiting municipalities from implementing curfews with certain exceptions.
House Bill (HB) 180, sponsored by State Representatives Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.) and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), is a direct result of a recent city curfew approved by Columbus City Council earlier this week.
On Monday, the Columbus City Council unanimously approved an executive order from Democratic Mayor Andrew Ginther that food trucks and carts in the Short North area of the city close at midnight.
The approval by Columbus City Council follows an incident where a man was shot and killed in the same area on Sunday, and 10 people were injured in an earlier May 6th shooting incident that resulted in police officers firing their weapons.
According to Ginther, he asked other Columbus businesses to also close at midnight to “reduce violence.”
The Columbus City Council said on Monday that it will revisit the curfew in June to determine if it should eliminate or prolong the midnight curfew.
HB 180 states, “No county that has adopted a charter under Article X of the Ohio Constitution or municipal corporation shall impose a curfew except a curfew for persons under eighteen years of age or a curfew in response to a clear and present emergency, as determined by the legislative authority of the county or municipal corporation.”
According to Ohio Right to Life President Michael Gonadakis, Mayor Ginther’s curfew request fails small businesses.
“Columbus, you will never be a “major league” city with these Clowns in Office. Dear small businesses you survived Covid, BLM (black lives matter) riots, inflation, and now your reward is to be shut down again. Your mayor has failed you yet again,” Gonadakis said.
LaRe said he intends this legislation to protect Ohio’s small businesses.
“During my career as a State Representative, I have worked hard to protect Ohio’s small businesses. This legislation continues this trend by removing barriers for small businesses while simultaneously promoting public safety by redirecting efforts towards supporting law enforcement,” Rep. LaRe said.
Under the legislation, municipalities will still be able to impose curfews for individuals under 18 or in response to a state of emergency.
According to Swearingen, one of his priorities is to alleviate economic burdens on small businesses in the state.
“One of my priorities has always been to alleviate economic burden on businesses. This legislation will ultimately protect Ohio small businesses from being penalized for crime in their cities,” Rep. Swearingen said.
The legislation is currently awaiting review in the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Jeff LaRe” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Photo “D.J. Swearingen” by The Ohio House of Representatives. Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by Sixflashphoto. CC BY-SA 4.0.
