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Committee hears bill to name Superman Ohio's official superhero when character enters public domain
Summary
Representatives Matthews and Upchurch testified for House Bill 2 70 to designate Superman as Ohio's official superhero once the character enters the public domain (cited as 2034), framing the measure as a tourism and cultural recognition effort; members asked about public-domain timing and how tourism agencies would implement the designation.
Representatives Adam Matthews and Terrence Upchurch presented House Bill 2 70 to the House General Government Committee, saying the bill would designate Superman as Ohio's official superhero once the character becomes part of the public domain.
"One of Ohio's most notable cultural exports, Superman originated in Cleveland," a sponsor said, noting the character's creators and Cleveland connections and arguing the designation would highlight Ohio's cultural history and boost tourism. Sponsors noted the character is expected to enter the public domain in 2034 and said they had spoken with Warner Bros. as a courtesy while planning the designation.
Members asked a mix of light-hearted and substantive questions. Vice Chair Lorraine quizzed sponsors on classic lines about Superman's powers; other members raised implementation questions for the Department of Tourism and whether the bill would spark further proposals to recognize other fictional characters. Sponsors said they planned tourism partnerships (conventions, historical markers, and museum highlights) and would invite proponents from tourism offices to testify at later hearings.
The committee did not take a vote on the measure during the hearing. Sponsors asked for consideration and described the bill as a bipartisan effort to celebrate Ohio's role in the character's history.
