Dozens of Ohio residents urge committee to reject SB 88, calling it discriminatory and harmful to state economy

Dozens of residents, students, business employees and civil‑liberty groups told the Ohio Senate General Government Committee they oppose Senate Bill 88, saying the measure would bar lawful immigrants, visa holders and some U.S. families from buying or keeping single‑family homes and would chill investment in the state. Testimony came during the committee’s hearing on the bill, which includes a provision allowing the Secretary of State to compile a registry of entities associated with designated foreign adversaries and a 25‑mile proximity rule tied to “critical infrastructure.”

Supporters of the testimony argued the language targets people by national origin rather than conduct, risks violating federal law and the Constitution, and could force some residents to sell homes under timelines in the bill. The committee adopted an amendment (No. 4405‑1) before testimony that the chair said would ‘‘grandfather in’’ property rights and titles acquired before the bill’s effective date or before an owner is added to the secretary of state’s registry.

The witnesses who testified against SB 88 included naturalized citizens, legal permanent residents,…