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Ohio lawmakers reintroduce bill to increase penalties for assaults on sports officials
Summary
Sponsors of House Bill 79 told the House Judiciary Committee they want stronger penalties to protect referees and umpires and to address a shortage of officials; sponsors said penalties could include fines or community service when offenders are indigent.
Representatives told the House Judiciary Committee on the first hearing of House Bill 79 that the measure would raise penalties for assaulting sports officials and help retain and recruit referees at youth, high school and amateur sporting events.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Romer, said the measure is a reintroduction of a prior bill and that its core aim is protection: “we believe that it's important that our state take steps to ensure the protection of sports officials,” he told the committee. Joint sponsor Representative Miller said the shortage of officials is acute: “4 out of 5 new officials don't stick around for more than 2 years,” he said, adding that 75% who quit cite adult behavior as the primary reason.
The sponsors said the bill would align penalties for assaulting an official more closely with protections already afforded to other school employees and safety personnel. Romer noted that current Ohio law treats assault as a misdemeanor but increases penalties to a felony where the victim is a protected class (teachers, administrators, bus drivers); sponsors said officials currently receive only minimal protection under statute.
Committee members asked practical and drafting questions. Representative Williams asked whether judges should retain discretion to substitute community service for a mandatory fine for indigent defendants; Romer responded, “My answer would be yes,” and said he and Miller are open to an amendment allowing alternatives to fines. Representative Timmons asked whether sports betting has driven any rise in assaults; Miller said most covered events are youth and scholastic contests with “de minimis” overlap with sports betting and that security at college and professional contests is different.
Sponsors said they expect testimony from the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and officials’ associations in upcoming hearings and noted prior media coverage of incidents involving officials across the state. The sponsors emphasized the bill is intended as a deterrent and part of outreach and training that existing officiating associations already provide.
The committee took no formal action during the hearing and moved to the next agenda item.
