Testimony on Sub. House Bill 1

Before the Ohio House Public Safety Committee 

By Mia Lewis, Common Cause Ohio

March 17, 2026

Chair Abrams, Vice Chair Miller, Ranking Member Thomas and members of the House Public Safety Committee, thank you for this opportunity to testify today in opposition to Substitute House Bill 1. 

My name is Mia Lewis and I am the associate director of Common Cause Ohio, an organization committed to open and accountable government.  While the substitute bill addresses some of the concerns raised —  and now exempts those with Green Card and military status, the legislation continues to discriminate based on national origin. This conflicts directly with established laws governing property ownership, due process, and equal protection. The United States is a nation of immigrants. For those of us whose families have been in this country for a long time, it’s hard to connect to the discrimination that they faced. At times in the past, our country has acted out of fear and failed to live up to our ideals, but that doesn’t mean we should go backwards. Any new law should reflect our commitment to treating one another equally, regardless of our race, ethnicity, or nationality.

Additionally, the bill continues to define “critical infrastructure” so broadly that it encompasses nearly every essential utility and communications system. Reducing the exclusion zone from 25 miles to 10 seems like a move in the right direction, but 10 miles still encompasses far too broad a swath of Ohio. More importantly, there is no evidence that the prohibitions on ownership in Sub. HB 1 would actually improve national security or make Ohio safer.  

I strongly urge you to oppose the Sub. House Bill 1. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.