Dear Neighbor,
It's an honor to serve as your State Representative for the 63rd Ohio House District.
I invite everybody to read more about what I'm working on at the Statehouse by visiting my webpage here, or checking out my previous newsletters here.
God Bless,
Adam Bird
State Representative
Ohio's 63rd House District
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House Bill 252 - Strengthening Penalties for Burglary, Trespass Offenses
 Representative Bird is a joint sponsor of House Bill 252, legislation to strengthen penalties for burglary and trespassing.
The bill creates new versions of the offenses of aggravated burglary, burglary, and trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present. Unlike current law, these new offenses do not require proof that someone used “force, stealth, or deception” when committing a crime. Instead, prosecutors must prove the offender knowingly entered a home or occupied structure with criminal intent.
“This legislation closes gaps in current law and ensures that individuals who knowingly enter someone’s home with criminal intent can be held accountable,” said Rep. Bird. “Ohio families deserve to feel safe in their homes, and this bill strengthens the tools available to protect them.”
According to the bill, penalties for certain existing crimes would be increased as follows:
- Aggravated burglary remains a first-degree felony.
- Burglary offenses are increased, raising penalties from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when a person is present or likely present in their home, and from a third-degree to a second-degree felony otherwise.
- Trespass in a habitation where a person is present or likely to be present is increased from the current law fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony, while the newly created version of the offense is a fourth-degree felony.
The legislation also maintains Ohio’s broad definition of an “occupied structure,” ensuring protections apply to homes, temporary dwellings, and other places where people may be present.
The bill now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
Conversations in Committee
 In the House Education Committee this week, Rep. Bird had the chance to meet, listen, and discuss the challenges of public school transportation with Akron Springfield Board of Education member Dave Hofer.
House Bill 249 - Indecent Exposure Modernization Act
 Rep. Bird is a co-sponsor of House Bill 249, also known as the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act. The bill aims to protect Ohio’s children, preserve family values, and update Ohio’s outdated obscenity laws.
House Bill 249 establishes important measures to protect children from being exposed to cabaret performances that are marketed to adults with adult themes, imagery, and performances. The ultimate goal is to protect children and families from sexualized performances taking place in public spaces while preserving the free speech rights of performers.
The Indecent Exposure Modernization Act creates the offense of “unlawful adult cabaret performance,” which prohibits a person, with knowledge of its character and content, from recklessly engaging in an adult cabaret performance in a location other than an adult cabaret. The bill underscores that an offense does not apply to a bona fide film, concert, or other artistic performance that is not obscene or not harmful to juveniles, or an adult cabaret performance in a private residence where no minors are present.
Under the bill, performing an “unlawful adult cabaret performance” is a first-degree misdemeanor or a fourth- or fifth-degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense.
The legislation also updates the offense of public indecency in the law to include exposure of a person’s “private area” rather than just the exposure of “private parts,” following a case in Xenia.
The bill now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
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