Representative Melanie Miller Announces Ohio Safe Homes Act

State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) today announced the introduction of the Ohio Safe Homes Act, legislation that works to protect victims of domestic violence and provide them with an exit strategy in dangerous situations.

House Bill 855, jointly sponsored by Reps. Miller and Michele Grim (D-Toledo), allows a tenant to terminate a rental agreement or request a change of locks at the tenant's expense, if the tenant is a victim of rape, attempted rape, domestic rape, dating violence, abuse, or a sexually oriented offense.

"Every Ohioan deserves to feel safe in their own home. The Ohio Safe Homes Act gives survivors of domestic and sexual violence a pathway to leave dangerous situations without facing additional financial hardship, while also providing reasonable protections for landlords," said Rep. Miller. "By removing barriers to safe housing transitions, we can help survivors take the next step toward stability and independence."

Under this bill, victims of sexually oriented offenses and domestic violence may pursue a termination of their rental agreement or request the installation of new locks if:

A qualifying protection order is issued or approved for the protection of the tenant, or
The tenant has reported the crime to a qualified third party (law enforcement officer or qualified victim advocate) and has received a written record of the report.
New locks can be installed at the tenant's expense.

"Across Ohio, survivors of domestic violence need practical solutions to safely escape violent situations or maintain stable housing," said Rep. Grim. "Domestic and sexual violence affect every type of community, family, and individual - and the consequences are too often deadly. I am proud to sponsor legislation that will provide survivors across our state with a critical tool to help them find safety and stability."

The bill was drafted in collaboration with housing providers and contains reasonable protections for landlords. Under the bill, landlords who have tenants break their lease would be eligible for a tax credit. Additionally, nothing in this legislation will prohibit rental property owners from collecting on damages done to a property, pursuant to Section 5321.16 of the ORC.

According to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, 2025 was the most lethal year for Domestic Violence homicides in Ohio and rose 37% from the previous year. This legislation serves as an opportunity to strengthen protections for victims. The bill would align Ohio with the over forty other states that have some level of safeguards in place for tenants who may find themselves in a domestic violence situation.

House Bill 855 will be assigned to a House committee in the near future.