COLUMBUS, Ohio — Democratic Representatives Terrance Upchurch and Adam Miller have introduced House Bill 150 in the Ohio General Assembly this week. The bill aims to prohibit rental discrimination based on lawful sources of income.
According to the bill, “lawful source of income” includes any lawful and verifiable source of money paid directly, indirectly, or on behalf of a person. This includes income from lawful professions, private grant or loan programs, and federal, state, or local government programs such as low-income housing assistance, Ohio Works First, Ohio Housing Finance Agency assistance, Medicaid, veterans’ affairs programs, and various nutrition assistance programs.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend sections 4112.01 and 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, which will prohibit rental housing discrimination based on an individual’s lawful source of income. The bill has been referred to the House Civil Justice Committee for further review.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, as of February 2023, approximately 203,000 Ohioans were enrolled in the Ohio Works First program, 105,000 in the Disability Assistance program, and 1,155,000 in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The report highlights that discrimination against individuals on welfare programs is a significant issue, negatively impacting their lives. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services also found that people of color and immigrants experience disproportionate negative outcomes in the welfare system, including higher rates of denial, termination, and reduction of benefits, as well as greater difficulty accessing services.