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Ohio senator seeks to protect 'thin blue line' flag after homeowners association dispute

Government Oversight and Reform Committee · February 18, 2026
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Summary

Sen. Schafer introduced Senate Bill 202, the Chief Steven DeCerio Act, to add the thin blue line flag to the state's list of protected flags after a homeowners association forced a grieving father to remove a flag presented at his son's funeral. Committee members questioned constitutional limits and whether the legislature should single out one cause flag.

Sen. Schafer offered sponsor testimony for Senate Bill 202, proposing to add the thin blue line flag to a statutory list of protected flags alongside the U.S. flag and military banners. Schafer said the measure is named for fallen Kirkersville Police Chief Steven DeCerio and grew out of an incident in which DeCerio's father was ordered by a homeowners association to remove a flag given at his son's funeral.

"This is a grieving father who was just trying to honor and remember…

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