H.B. 234 Summary

• Eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecution of rape (section 2907.02), sexual battery (section 2907.03), and complicity to commit these offenses, allowing charges to be filed at any time.

• Removes spousal exceptions for rape and sexual battery offenses, making it illegal for a person to engage in non-consensual sexual conduct with their spouse.

• Permits spouses to testify against each other in prosecutions for rape and sexual battery, eliminating the marital privilege that previously barred such testimony in these cases.

• Applies retroactively to offenses committed before the effective date if prosecution was not previously barred under the existing statute of limitations.