Ohio’s Criminal, Civil and Administrative Statutes of Limitations to be tolled in Ohio through the date the emergency ends or July 30, 2020 – whichever is sooner.

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The Ohio Senate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic amended the HB 197, which was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives back in October 2019.  This bill was selected by the Senate as the vehicle for emergency coronavirus legislation to navigate the crisis. The legislation was unanimously passed by the Senate on March 25, 2020, and the House unanimously approved the amendments.  The Governor has advised Ohio that he plans to sign the bill Friday, March 27, 2020. The bill contains an emergency clause, meaning that its provisions will take immediate effect upon the Governor’s signature.
 

As enacted, the bill contains many emergency measures including the tolling of statute of limitations in Ohio.  In particular, the bill will act to toll criminal statutes of limitations, civil statutes of limitations, and administrative statutes of limitations and other court time limitations and deadlines that expired or are set to expire between March 9, 2020 and July 30, 2020.  Such tolling will expire on the date the emergency ends or July 30, 2020, whichever is sooner.