Columbus, OH – Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment to SB 37 that would make the bill retroactive. As it stands, SB 37 would discontinue the practice of suspending a person’s driver’s license for minor infractions like the failure to pay a traffic ticket involvement, which is often the result of financial struggle. Over 1.5 million Ohioans have their licenses suspended every year for debt-related reasons like a missed traffic ticket. This amendment means that those who have had their licenses suspended for these minor infractions will have them reinstated, immediately enabling them to legally drive to work again.

As debate continues over whether to provide emergency relief to state and local jurisdictions to fight COVID-19, Justice Action Network announced a broad coalition of state and local officials—sheriffs, judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, legislators, and corrections administrators—who are sounding the alarm on the need for federal emergency aid to justice systems across the country.