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Supporters urge extending Ohio's Son of Sam law to crowdfunding after fundraising for alleged killer
Summary
Proponents told the House Technology and Innovation Committee that House Bill 505 would treat crowdfunding platforms as charitable solicitors, require recordkeeping, ban fundraising that promotes violence, and empower the attorney general to enforce refunds and a $10,000 platform penalty; family members and law‑enforcement witnesses urged passage after a campaign tied to an alleged killer raised more than $55,000.
House members heard proponent testimony on House Bill 505, a bill that would extend Ohio's Son of Sam principles to web‑based crowdfunding platforms.
Corey Jordan, director of policy and legislation for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, told the committee HB 505 would require platforms operating in Ohio to prohibit fundraising that supports calls to violence or other unlawful purposes, to keep accurate records of Ohio campaigns and disclose those records to the attorney general's office, and to provide a refund mechanism if a campaign is cancelled for violating terms of service. Jordan said one national crowdfunding campaign tied to the alleged killer in a May incident had raised more than $55,000, and that current Son of Sam law is narrow because it predates web‑based platforms.
The bill would treat crowdfunding platforms as charitable solicitors under state law, Jordan said, and impose a $10,000 penalty on platforms that fail to meet the proposed requirements. He said his office and the sponsors were working with industry leaders to refine a substitute bill, aiming to limit bureaucracy while preventing fraud and ensuring donor intent is honored.
Daniel Hills, a longtime Cincinnati police officer and FOP representative, described online comments on a GiveSendGo campaign that he said celebrated the alleged killing and called for violence against police. Hills urged the committee to condemn platforms that allow the monetization or promotion of violent crimes and asked members to move the bill forward.
Laurie Henderson, widow of Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff Larry Henderson, urged the committee to adopt the measure so victims' families are not forced to witness fundraising connected to violent crime: “No family should have to bury their loved one while simultaneously watching funds be raised,” she said.
Committee members asked practical questions about funds that cannot be traced to a donor. Jordan said payment processors typically identify donors and that refunds should be possible in roughly all but a very small percentage of cases; he said the substitute would clarify how unidentifiable donations would be handled. A member requested the committee be provided the crowdfunding link for the record; witnesses agreed to submit it.
The committee concluded the second hearing on HB 505 and indicated it would await a revised substitute before further action.
