Ohio lawmakers are advancing several bills aimed at protecting domestic violence survivors, following new figures from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network that show 134 domestic violence-related fatalities between 2025 and 2026. This total marks the state’s second-highest on record, highlighting ongoing concerns about lethal intimate partner violence.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported this week that the 134 fatalities included 89 deceased victims and 45 deceased perpetrators. This period follows a record high in the previous year. The network's report also documented that five children were murdered by a parent or stepparent during this time, and 53 children witnessed the murder of a parent. Firearms were used in three-quarters of the documented domestic violence-related fatalities.
A significant finding in the report underscores the heightened risks faced by survivors at critical junctures: nearly half of the victims had left or were attempting to leave their abusers when they were killed. This proportion represents almost double the percentage reported two years earlier, adding urgency to calls for enhanced protections. These findings were presented at an event at the Ohio Statehouse, where advocates and lawmakers gathered to discuss legislative proposals.
One key proposal moving through the legislature is Senate Bill 225, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Susan Manchester of Waynesfield. This bill seeks to expand Ohio’s Safe At Home Program, which currently allows eligible participants to keep their residential addresses confidential while maintaining access to services like voting. Senator Manchester stated that her bill would extend these protections to family members and broaden the categories of violence that qualify someone for participation. She emphasized that “No one should be prevented from exercising their right to vote because of the situations they’ve encountered.” The intent behind this proposal is to offer survivors additional options for securing their locations and personal safety after experiencing abuse.
Democratic state Rep. Dontavius Jarrells of Columbus is a co-sponsor of another initiative, the bipartisan Break The Silence Act. This act would require medical facilities to establish procedures for interviewing suspected domestic violence victims separately from their partners or alleged abusers. Rep. Jarrells shared publicly for the first time at the Statehouse event that he witnessed his mother being abused as a child, an experience he said shaped his decision to work on legislation addressing domestic violence. Maria York, policy director for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, explained that the proposal addresses concerns from survivors who reported being asked about their injuries while their abusive partner was present, leading to incomplete or inaccurate documentation. Advocates believe private interviews could help medical providers gather more precise information, document potential abuse, and better identify patients who may be in danger.
York also called upon the Ohio House to advance bipartisan legislation reforming the state’s family law courts before the end of the year. She noted that “the laws around family courts have not been revised for over 25 years,” and these reforms aim to create a more safety-centered process in family courts. Advocates are pressing lawmakers to act on this during the legislature’s remaining session this year.
The legislative push is further informed by the experiences of survivors and their families. Lana Hiott spoke at the Statehouse event about her sister, Shannon, who was murdered by a former partner in 2023. Hiott recounted that her sister took numerous precautions after the relationship ended but was still killed, stating that Shannon “warned over 20,000 women. And she was still murdered.”
Both Senator Manchester and Representative Jarrells received the Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s 2026 Croucher Award in recognition of their efforts on domestic violence issues at the Statehouse. The urgency of these legislative efforts is underscored by the network's findings, particularly the significant dangers some victims face when attempting to separate from an abusive partner. The high proportion of victims leaving or trying to leave a relationship has amplified advocates’ calls for stronger confidentiality protections, improved medical screening, and crucial changes to family court procedures. The proposed bills address various points at which survivors require protection: safeguarding their addresses, creating safe avenues for disclosing abuse in medical settings, and ensuring family court processes account for domestic violence risks.
Ohio residents experiencing domestic violence, or those concerned about someone else’s safety, can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
