OH HB306

Creates a new criminal offense for hate crimes when a person commits a violent offense against a victim intentionally selected based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, political opinion, or exercise of political rights, with penalties elevated to the next higher degree than the underlying offense

Establishes a civil cause of action allowing victims of bias-motivated terrorizing to sue for actual damages, punitive damages, and civil fines up to $25,000, with mandatory attorney's fees for prevailing plaintiffs

Prohibits terrorizing another person through violence or threats of violence based on political affiliation, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, familial status, military status, disability, or position in a labor dispute

Defines "intimidation by threat of violence" to include making knowingly false reports to law enforcement about another person and distributing unauthorized materials on private property to terrorize the owner

Voids any contract provisions requiring waiver of hate crime protections or civil remedies as a condition of receiving goods or services, and allows the attorney general or county prosecutors to bring civil actions on behalf of victims