COLUMBUS — Legislation expressly permitting warrantless law enforcement drone surveillance is set to become law on Oct. 6.
House Bill 251, sponsored by state Rep. Bernard Willis (R., Springfield), flew under the radar as the Ohio General Assembly considered bills on data centers, Medicaid fraud, voter ID, and capital appropriations before lawmakers’ summer recess.
The legislation was approved by both chambers overwhelmingly — 89-5 in the Ohio House and 31-2 in the Ohio Senate — and was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on July 7. All northwest Ohio legislators voted in favor of the final version of H.B. 251…