Calls are intensifying for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to veto portions of a bill passed in the closing hours of the legislative session, which would authorize higher fees for certain public records.
The controversial provision, part of House Bill 315, introduces substantial fees for specific public records, particularly those related to law enforcement agencies. The bill allows agencies to charge higher fees for access to body camera, dashboard camera, and surveillance footage, setting a fee of up to $75 per hour of video processing, with a cap of $750.
Critics argue that these higher fees undermine transparency and accountability. “Taxpayers have already funded these cameras and footage. Charging additional fees for access is wrong and undermines transparency,” said Rep. Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, who serves as president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. “This footage has often been critical in uncovering the truth in police shootings and other incidents. Justice should not come with a price tag.”
The Black Caucus believes these fees could create significant barriers for families, media organizations, and community groups, particularly when seeking accountability for incidents that impact Black and minority communities. Upchurch emphasized, “Charging the public for access erodes trust and justice.”
The call for a veto follows a similar request by the House Democratic Caucus, who urged Governor DeWine to line-item veto provisions in House Bill 315 and other bills, including the controversial Parents Bill of Rights (House Bill 8). The latter bill, among other things, mandates that school personnel notify parents if a student confides in them about being gay or having gender identity concerns.