FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ohioans Overwhelmingly Opposed House Bill 1 (H.B. 1) at Hearing on March 17

Not a Single Ohio Resident Testified in Support

5 of the total 7 support testimonies came from out of state

Only seven testimonies were submitted in support of the legislation, five of which came from out‑of‑state special‑interest groups. In contrast, opposition testimony came from 95 Ohio residents, one member of the legislature, and six community and civil‑rights organizations.

Media Contact: jo@justiceforohio.org

Columbus, OH — March 19, 2026 — The Ohio House Public Safety Committee held its fourth hearing on March 17, 2026, on House Bill 1 (H.B. 1), titled the Ohio Property Protection Act. The proposed legislation would restrict property ownership for immigrants based on national origin. The hearing once again drew a full room and highlighted the overwhelming and consistent public opposition to the bill.

Testimony breakdown:

  • 102 in opposition

  • 7 in support

  • 3 as interested party

Not a single Ohio resident testified in support of H.B. 1. Only seven testimonies were submitted in support of the legislation, five of which came from out‑of‑state special‑interest groups. In contrast, opposition testimony came from 95 Ohio residents, one member of the legislature, and six community and civil‑rights organizations.

Proponents Fail to Demonstrate Security Rationale

Supporters of H.B. 1 failed to show how the bill protects Ohioans or addresses national security risks. Their testimony:

  • Relied on unsubstantiated claims and anecdotes against lawful residents and visa holders.

  • Cited isolated incidents in other states with no relation to home ownership.

  • Offered no evidence linking immigrants in Ohio to national security threats.

  • Did not explain with evidence how the legislation would address any real security concerns.

  • Linked illegal immigration and border concerns to individual home buyers and businesses owners that are here legally in the United States.

H.B. 1 Imposes Unfunded Mandates That Burden Counties and Undermine Public Safety

County officials warned that HB1 would impose significant new, unfunded mandates on local governments by requiring county auditors and county prosecutors to take on extensive screening, investigative, and enforcement duties created by the bill’s vague and legally uncertain requirements. 

  • County auditors would be responsible for reviewing every property transfer for potential violations.

  • County prosecutors would be tasked with investigating and litigating complex real‑estate ownership cases—without a single dollar of state support. 

These added burdens, without any appropriation or funding mechanism, would strain already limited county resources, divert staff from essential services, and ultimately compromise core law‑enforcement and public‑safety efforts across Ohio.

Broad Legal, Economic, and Civil Rights Concerns

Opponents of H.B. 1 emphasized that the bill:

  • Discriminates on the basis of national origin.

  • Wrongfully punishes those that follow the law.

  • Conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act.

  • Damages Ohio’s reputation as a fair, welcoming, and business‑friendly state, and the most innovative and entrepreneurial state in the Midwest.

  • Defines “critical infrastructure” so broadly that it would effectively restrict property ownership by lawful residents across the state — see attached the critical infrastructure zone map. This is a complete ban on home ownership in the state and a level of government overreach unprecedented in Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a measure similar to H.B. 1 in the state budget in 2023, saying the language could harm economic development.

Business and Civic Leaders Warn of H.B. 1’s Unintended Consequences

“[We] are concerned that Sub. H.B. 1 could still have unintended consequences for Ohio’s economic competitiveness and the ability of our member companies to attract and retain the highly skilled workforce necessary to sustain the state’s growth,” said Alexandra Denney, Vice President of Government Relations & Communications at the Ohio Business Roundtable.

“I am concerned that while given the national security intent of the bill, the legislation could have unintended impacts on our region’s workers, businesses and communities, as well as other manufacturers across Ohio who rely on products manufactured in the Dayton area, “ said  Stephanie Keinath, Executive Vice President for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Ohio is home to nearly 600,000 immigrants who contribute more than $50 billion to our state’s economy and pay over $7 billion in taxes each year. Thousands of these neighbors have spent years navigating the rigorous federal immigration process on their path toward permanent residency and citizenship. HB1 and SB88 would directly and arbitrarily penalize them. This is not only unfair—it would also undermine Ohio’s economic strength at a moment when we can least afford it,” said Yumin Yin, President of the Asian American Coalition of Ohio.

“The bill sends a troubling message to many immigrants, students, and professionals who contribute to Ohio every day—that they may never fully belong here,” said Dr. Hongmei Li, President of AWARE Ohio.

“Although framed as measures to enhance Ohio’s security, the substitute bill for House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88 would not meaningfully strengthen Ohio’s safety. Instead, they would punish law‑abiding residents who are legally present in the United States, harm Ohio’s reputation as a fair and business‑friendly state, and undermine the constitutional and economic principles that have long fueled our success,” said Hao Cong, President of Justice for Ohio.

“Immigrants play an outsized role in Ohio’s innovation economy—making up roughly 12% of STEM workers and 26% of software developers—and with the state already dependent on this global talent, HB1 risks driving away skilled professionals and investors, undermining Ohio’s ability to attract innovation, research, and long‑term growth,” said Vincent Wang, Chair of the Ohio Chinese American Association.

“HB 1 remains what opponents all along accuse it of being. That is, a resurrection and modernization of the various exclusion laws stretching from the 1880s to the middle of the 20th century… the ACLU of Ohio is concerned Sub. HB 1 violates any number of (at least): The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the federal Fair Housing Act, and is unnecessarily duplicative of the federal Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018, which requires vetting of many of the types (of) property purchases targeted by HB 1,” said Gary Daniels, Legislative Director, ACLU of Ohio.

Ohio Voters Reject Fear and Division

Ohio voters will not fall for the false claims and conspiracy theories used by supporters of this bill to target innocent residents. As voters head to the polls, they know to cast their ballots based on which candidates can use evidence‑based policymaking to lower grocery bills, healthcare costs, and housing costs for Ohio families—rather than those who resort to fear‑mongering under the guise of national security to score political points and harm innocent immigrants.

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About Asian American Coalition of Ohio

The Asian American Coalition of Ohio (AACO) is a nonprofit, grassroots organization with the mission to educate, engage and empower Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in Ohio to participate in all aspects of American society. Website: www.aacohio.org.

About AWARE Ohio

AWARE (Advocacy and Workshops for Asian American Rights and Empowerment) Ohio is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to uplifting the voices and stories of Asian Americans in Ohio. Website: www.awareohio.org. 

About Justice for Ohio

Justice for Ohio is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic engagement, protecting civil rights, and advocating for policies that promote equity and justice across Ohio. We work to address unfair treatment and ensure that every individual—regardless of background—can fully participate in civic life. Website: www.justiceforohio.org.

About Ohio Chinese American Association

The Ohio Chinese American Association (OCAA) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to unite Chinese Americans, raise awareness of the rights and obligations as an American citizen, and champion volunteerism and community service. Website: ohiocaa.org.

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