As Passed by the House

136th General Assembly

Regular Session Am. H. B. No. 434

2025-2026

To amend section 4507.21 of the Revised Code and to amend Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly to exempt certain military-related limited term driver's license applicants from the driver's education requirements, to expand the Drones for First Responders Program, and to declare an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 4507.21 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4507.21. (A) Except as provided in section 4507.061 of the Revised Code, each applicant for a driver's license shall file an application in the office of the registrar of motor vehicles or of a deputy registrar.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(4) of this section, each person under twenty-one years of age applying for a driver's license issued in this state and each person twenty-one years of age or older applying for an initial limited term license in this state shall present satisfactory evidence of having successfully completed one of the following:

(a) A driver training course approved by the director of public safety.

(b) A driver training course comparable to a driver training course described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section and administered by a branch of the armed forces of the United States and completed by the applicant while residing outside this state for the purpose of being with or near any person serving in the armed forces of the United States.

(2) Each person under twenty-one years of age applying for a driver's license also shall present, on a form prescribed by the registrar, an affidavit signed by an eligible adult attesting that the person has acquired at least fifty hours of actual driving experience, with at least ten of those hours being at night.

(3) Except as provided in division (B)(4) of this section, each person twenty-one years of age or older applying for an initial limited term license in this state also shall present, on a form prescribed by the registrar, an affidavit signed by an adult who holds a current valid driver's or commercial driver's license issued by this state that the applicant has acquired at least fifty hours of actual driving experience, with at least ten of those hours being at night, accompanied by the signing adult.

(4) ~~Both~~ All of the following individuals are exempt from the requirements specified in divisions (B)(1) and (3) of this section:

(a) A person who receives a waiver of the examination by the registrar in accordance with section 4507.10 of the Revised Code;

(b) An initial limited term license applicant twenty-one years of age or older who is from a country with which the registrar has a reciprocal arrangement in accordance with section 4507.101 of the Revised Code;

(c) A person who possesses both a valid, unexpired visa issued by the United States department of state and a valid, unexpired foreign driver's license and who presents a form, prescribed by the registrar, attesting to the person's relationship with either the United States military, the United States department of defense, or any of the subordinate agencies to the department of defense.

(C)(1) An applicant for an initial driver's license shall present satisfactory evidence of successful completion of the abbreviated driver training course for adults, approved by the director of public safety under section 4508.02 of the Revised Code, if all of the following apply:

(a) The applicant is twenty-one years of age or older.

(b) The applicant failed the road or maneuverability test required under division (A)(2) of section 4507.11 of the Revised Code.

(c) In the twelve months immediately preceding the date of application, the applicant has not successfully completed a driver training course.

(2) An applicant shall present satisfactory evidence as required under division (C)(1) of this section prior to attempting the test a second or subsequent time.

(D) If the registrar or deputy registrar determines that the applicant is entitled to the driver's license, it shall be issued. If the application shows that the applicant's license has been previously canceled or suspended, the deputy registrar shall forward the application to the registrar, who shall determine whether the license shall be granted.

(E) An applicant shall file an application under this section in duplicate, and the deputy registrar issuing the license shall immediately forward to the office of the registrar the original copy of the application, together with the duplicate copy of any certificate of completion if issued for purposes of division (B) of this section. The registrar shall prescribe rules as to the manner in which the deputy registrar files and maintains the applications and other records. The registrar shall file every application for a driver's or commercial driver's license and index them by name and number, and shall maintain a suitable record of all licenses issued, all convictions and bond forfeitures, all applications for licenses denied, and all licenses that have been suspended or canceled.

(F) For purposes of section 2313.06 of the Revised Code, the registrar shall maintain accurate and current lists of the residents of each county who are eighteen years of age or older, have been issued, on and after January 1, 1984, driver's or commercial driver's licenses that are valid and current, and would be electors if they were registered to vote, regardless of whether they actually are registered to vote. The lists shall contain the names, addresses, dates of birth, duration of residence in this state, citizenship status, and social security numbers, if the numbers are available, of the licensees, and may contain any other information that the registrar considers suitable.

(G) Each person under eighteen years of age applying for a motorcycle operator's endorsement or a restricted license enabling the applicant to operate a motorcycle shall present satisfactory evidence of having completed the courses of instruction in the motorcycle safety and education program described in section 4508.08 of the Revised Code or a comparable course of instruction administered by a branch of the armed forces of the United States and completed by the applicant while residing outside this state for the purpose of being with or near any person serving in the armed forces of the United States. If the registrar or deputy registrar then determines that the applicant is entitled to the endorsement or restricted license, it shall be issued.

(H) No person shall knowingly make a false statement in an affidavit presented in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section.

(I) As used in this section, "eligible adult" means any of the following persons:

(1) A parent, guardian, or custodian of the applicant;

(2) A person over the age of twenty-one who acts in loco parentis of the applicant and who maintains proof of financial responsibility with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle owned by the applicant or with respect to the applicant's operation of any motor vehicle.

(J) Whoever violates division (H) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined one hundred dollars.

Section 2. That existing section 4507.21 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Section 3. That Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 755.20. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "First responder" means a law enforcement agency, fire department, or emergency medical services organization.

(2) "Unmanned aerial vehicle system" has the same meaning as in section 4561.50 of the Revised Code.

(B) The Director of Transportation shall establish a Drones for First Responders pilot program to be administered by the Department of Transportation.

(1) Acquiring unmanned aerial vehicle system assets for first responders within municipal corporations, counties, and townships;

(2) Providing training on the operation of unmanned aerial vehicle systems to the operators of those systems;

(3) Obtaining approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for beyond visual line of sight operations for purposes of the pilot program and the operation of unmanned aerial vehicle systems within the program;

(4) Integrating existing Ohio unmanned aerial vehicle system infrastructure for purposes of conducting beyond visual line of sight operations within the program;

(5) Collecting metrics for cost-benefit analyses related to advanced unmanned aerial vehicle system operations;

(6) Developing a comprehensive approach for community acceptance and integration of unmanned aerial vehicle system operations;

(7) Standardizing an approval process with the Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned aerial vehicle system operators across the state.

(D)(1) The Director shall establish a process to award money available under the program to the legislative authority of municipal corporations, boards of county commissioners, and boards of township trustees that are willing to participate in the program and meet any guidelines established by the Director for meeting the program's goals. The money awarded shall be allocated towards the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicle systems for first responders within the municipal corporations, counties, and townships for training support, for assisting in navigating federal processes and approvals, and for supporting the integration of statewide operations.

(2) Any unmanned aerial vehicle system purchased through the program shall comply with the federal laws and regulations for such systems, including those in the national security interests of the United States. As such, no system, including any components, services, or maintenance of that system, shall originate from a country or other entity that has been deemed a national security risk by the United States Secretary of State in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 2780 and 50 U.S.C. 4813. Additionally, any system shall comply with the "Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002," 6 U.S.C. 441, et seq., and any applicable conditions of national defense spending.

(E) The Director shall establish any procedures and requirements necessary to administer this section, including award processes, and any conditions for the expenditure of funding awarded under the program.

(F)(1) Not later than two years after ~~the effective date of this section~~September 30, 2025, the Director shall submit a report regarding the program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, and the chairs of any committee of the House of Representatives and Senate related to transportation issues.

(2) The report shall detail how funds were expended through the program, the success of the program in meeting its goals, the cost-benefit analysis created through the program, and any recommendations for additional integration of unmanned aerial vehicle system operations by first responders.

Section 4. That existing Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly is hereby repealed.

Section 5. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that certain foreign government officials and contractors associated with the United States military and Department of Defense are otherwise unable to drive in Ohio without undertaking the complete driver's education courses and practice hours. Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.