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OH HB623
Bill
Status
Introduced
12/8/2025
Primary Sponsor
Munira Abdullahi
Click for details
AI Summary
- School districts must offer religious dietary food options upon request with reasonable notice, provided the cost does not exceed the federal reimbursement rate for a student's meal
- County correctional facilities, municipal correctional facilities, and state correctional institutions must accommodate the mandatory dietary requirements of a recognized religion practiced by an inmate
- Licensed hospitals, including those licensed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, must offer religious dietary food options upon request with reasonable notice and make accommodations as soon as they are able to provide the meals
- Creates new prohibitions against misrepresenting food as "halal," mirroring existing kosher food misrepresentation laws, including bans on false labeling of meat, use of deceptive signage or symbols such as the star and crescent, and requirements for businesses selling both halal and nonhalal food to post signage in block letters at least four inches high
- Violations of the new halal misrepresentation provisions carry fines of $25 to $500, enforced by the Department of Agriculture with a 10-day warning period for first-time offenders before strict criminal liability applies
Legislative Description
Require religious dietary food options in certain facilities
Health and Human Services : Health Care
Last Action
Referred to committee: Education
2/4/2026
Committee Referrals
Education 2/4/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available