House Bill 144 Supports Disability-Inclusive Safety in Emergency Services

Pictured from left to right: Janae Myers, Legislative Aide for Rep. Click; Rep. Gary Click; Keith Jesse, proponent for the bill and for whom Keith's Law is named; Governor DeWine; Brendan Garret, proponent for the bill; Rep. Brian Lorenz; Julia Garrett, proponent for the bill; and Ben Nettles, Former Legislative Aide for Rep. Click.

On October 20, 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 144 into law. This important legislation, known as Keith's Law, builds upon Ohio's Communication Disability Law, enabling first responders to have information shared by individuals with disabilities when responding to countywide 9-1-1 calls.

This legislation modifies the Communication Disability Law by broadening the scope of the existing voluntary statewide registry to include individuals diagnosed with various disabilities, not just communication disabilities. Individuals diagnosed with a disability, as well as parents or legal guardians of minors with disabilities, will be able to submit a disability verification form. This information will be included in a database accessed by countywide 9-1-1 systems to inform local law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, and firefighters about an individual's disability when responding to a 9-1-1 call, enabling them to respond with greater awareness and preparation.

OOD is currently working with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) to update the disability verification form. Once updated, the form will be available on the OOD, DPS, and Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities websites. Stay tuned for additional updates!