H.B. No. 561 Summary

• Eliminates spousal exceptions for rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, gross sexual imposition, sexual imposition, and importuning offenses in Ohio law.

• Allows spouses to testify against each other in prosecutions for these six sexual offenses, removing previous restrictions on spousal testimony.

• Establishes that marital status or cohabitation is not a defense to charges under the affected offense sections.

• Applies to spouses living separate and apart, making the spousal exemptions invalid only for these specific sexual offense categories.

• Repeals and replaces Ohio Revised Code sections 2907.02-2907.07 and 2945.42 to implement these changes.