HB 350 Summary

• Re-enacts Ohio criminal statutes prohibiting animal fighting (cockfighting, bearbaiting, pitting animals), bestiality, and related violations that were severed by court decision in Toledo v. Ohio (2018).

• Criminalizes organizing, witnessing, wagering on, or profiting from animal fighting events; using animals for fighting; and possessing devices to enhance fighting ability.

• Establishes sexual conduct with animals as a felony, defined as any sexual contact between a person and animal or insertion of objects into animal reproductive openings without valid veterinary or husbandry purpose.

• Sets penalties ranging from fourth-degree misdemeanor to fifth-degree felony depending on violation type, with potential forfeiture of animals and court-ordered psychological counseling for offenders.

• Requires humane society agents to complete minimum 20 hours of training on animal cruelty investigation before appointment, with residency requirement for the county or municipal corporation where appointed.