During the lame duck session, the House unanimously approved Senate Bill 235 without amendments. The human trafficking bill that was sponsored by Senator Teresa Fedor and Senator Tim Grendell created a stand-alone, second-degree felony for trafficking a person. If a person is convicted of this crime, they could serve up to 8 years in prison for either sex crimes or “involuntary servitude” crimes. The passage of the new human trafficking law will replace the tack on offense for only sex-related crimes that was never used.

Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Senator Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland) jointly introduced Senate Bill 235. Ohio is one of seven states without trafficking legislation in line with the federal definition. Senate Bill 235 would make labor or sex trafficking in Ohio a second-degree felony. The bi-partisan bill is co-sponsored by twenty-six senators.