SB 419

As Passed by the Senate
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  S. B. No. 419
       2025-2026
  Senator Gavarone
 Cosponsors: Senators Cirino, Craig, Cutrona, DeMora, Johnson, Landis, Lang,
  Liston, Manning, McColley, Patton, Reineke, Wilson
  To amend sections 4507.05 and 4507.071 of the  1
  Revised Code to lower the age at which a  2
  juvenile may obtain a temporary instruction  3
  permit from 15½ to 15 and to expand the time a  4
  juvenile must hold a temporary instruction  5
  permit before eligibility for a probationary  6
  license from six months to one year.  7
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That sections 4507.05 and 4507.071 of the  8
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:  9
     Sec. 4507.05. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles, or a  10
deputy registrar, upon receiving an application for a temporary  11
instruction permit and a temporary instruction permit  12
identification card for a driver's license from any person who  13
is at least fifteen years six months of age, may issue such a  14
permit and identification card entitling the applicant to drive  15
a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, upon the  16
highways under the following conditions:  17
     (1) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least  18
fifteen years six months of age, but less than sixteen years of  19
S. B. No. 419  Page 2
As Passed by the Senate
age:  20
       (a) The permit and identification card are in the holder's  21
immediate possession;  22
       (b) The holder is accompanied by an eligible adult who  23
actually occupies the seat beside the permit holder and does not  24
have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood,  25
blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in division  26
(A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code;  27
       (c) The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not  28
exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices  29
originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer,  30
and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available  31
elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.  32
       (2) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least  33
sixteen years of age:  34
       (a) The permit and identification card are in the holder's  35
immediate possession;  36
       (b) The holder is accompanied by a licensed operator who  37
is at least twenty-one years of age, is actually occupying a  38
seat beside the driver, and does not have a prohibited  39
concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or  40
plasma, breath, or urine as provided in division (A) of section  41
4511.19 of the Revised Code;  42
       (c) The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not  43
exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices  44
originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer,  45
and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available  46
elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.  47
S. B. No. 419  Page 3
As Passed by the Senate
       (B) The registrar or a deputy registrar, upon receiving  48
from any person an application for a temporary instruction  49
permit and temporary instruction permit identification card to  50
operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motor scooter, or  51
motorized bicycle, may issue such a permit and identification  52
card entitling the applicant, while having the permit and  53
identification card in the applicant's immediate possession, to  54
drive a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle or motor scooter, under  55
the restrictions prescribed in section 4511.53 of the Revised  56
Code, or to drive a motorized bicycle under restrictions  57
determined by the registrar. A temporary instruction permit and  58
temporary instruction permit identification card to operate a  59
motorized bicycle may be issued to a person fourteen or fifteen  60
years old.  61
       (C) Any permit and identification card issued under this  62
section shall be issued in the same manner as a driver's  63
license, upon a form to be furnished by the registrar. A  64
temporary instruction permit to drive a motor vehicle other than  65
a commercial motor vehicle shall be valid for a period of one  66
year and six months.  67
       (D) Any person having in the person's possession a valid  68
and current driver's license or motorcycle operator's license or  69
endorsement issued to the person by another jurisdiction  70
recognized by this state is exempt from obtaining a temporary  71
instruction permit for a driver's license and from submitting to  72
the examination for a temporary instruction permit and the  73
regular examination for obtaining a driver's license or  74
motorcycle operator's endorsement in this state if the person  75
does all of the following:  76
       (1) Submits to and passes vision screening as provided in  77
S. B. No. 419  Page 4
As Passed by the Senate
section 4507.12 of the Revised Code;  78
       (2) Surrenders to the registrar or deputy registrar the  79
person's driver's license issued by the other jurisdiction; and  80
       (3) Complies with all other applicable requirements for  81
issuance by this state of a driver's license, driver's license  82
with a motorcycle operator's endorsement, or restricted license  83
to operate a motorcycle.  84
       If the person does not comply with all the requirements of  85
this division, the person shall submit to the regular  86
examination for obtaining a driver's license or motorcycle  87
operator's endorsement in this state in order to obtain such a  88
license or endorsement.  89
       (E) The registrar may adopt rules governing the use of  90
temporary instruction permits and temporary instruction permit  91
identification cards.  92
       (F)(1) No holder of a permit issued under division (A) of  93
this section shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any  94
public or private property used by the public for purposes of  95
vehicular travel or parking in violation of the conditions  96
established under division (A) of this section.  97
       (2) Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(2) of  98
this section, no holder of a permit that is issued under  99
division (A) of this section and that is issued on or after July  100
1, 1998, and who has not attained the age of under eighteen  101
years, of age shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or  102
any public or private property used by the public for purposes  103
of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and  104
six a.m.  105
       The holder of a permit issued under division (A) of this  106
S. B. No. 419  Page 5
As Passed by the Senate
section on or after July 1, 1998, who has not attained the age  107
of under eighteen years, of age may operate a motor vehicle upon  108
a highway or any public or private property used by the public  109
for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of  110
midnight and six a.m. if, at the time of such operation, the  111
holder is accompanied by the holder's parent, guardian, or  112
custodian, and the parent, guardian, or custodian holds a  113
current valid driver's or commercial driver's license issued by  114
this state, is actually occupying a seat beside the permit  115
holder, and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol  116
in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as  117
provided in division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.  118
       (G)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the  119
contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of  120
a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop  121
the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether  122
each occupant of the motor vehicle is wearing all of the  123
available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining  124
device as required by division (A) of this section, or for the  125
sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons if the  126
requirement in that division has been or is being violated, or  127
for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a  128
person for a violation of that requirement.  129
       (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the  130
contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of  131
a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop  132
the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether a  133
violation of division (F)(2) of this section has been or is  134
being committed or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket,  135
citation, or summons for such a violation or for causing the  136
arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for such  137
S. B. No. 419  Page 6
As Passed by the Senate
violation.  138
       (H) As used in this section:  139
       (1) "Eligible adult" means any of the following:  140
       (a) An instructor of a driver training course approved by  141
the department of public safety;  142
       (b) Any of the following persons who holds a current valid  143
driver's or commercial driver's license issued by this state:  144
       (i) A parent, guardian, or custodian of the permit holder;  145
       (ii) A person twenty-one years of age or older who acts in  146
loco parentis of the permit holder.  147
       (2) "Occupant restraining device" has the same meaning as  148
in section 4513.263 of the Revised Code.  149
       (I) Whoever violates division (F)(1) or (2) of this  150
section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.  151
       Sec. 4507.071. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles or any  152
deputy registrar shall not issue a driver's license to any  153
person under eighteen years of age, except that the registrar or  154
a deputy registrar may issue a probationary license to a person  155
who is at least sixteen years of age and has held a temporary  156
instruction permit for a period of at least six monthsone year.  157
       (B)(1)(a) No holder of a probationary driver's license who  158
has held the license for less than twelve months shall operate a  159
motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property  160
used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking  161
between the hours of midnight and six a.m. unless the holder is  162
accompanied by the holder's parent or guardian.  163
       (b) No holder of a probationary driver's license who has  164
S. B. No. 419  Page 7
As Passed by the Senate
held the license for twelve months or longer shall operate a  165
motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property  166
used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking  167
between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m. unless the holder is  168
accompanied by the holder's parent or guardian.  169
       (2)(a) Subject to division (D)(1) of this section,  170
division (B)(1)(a) of this section does not apply to the holder  171
of a probationary driver's license who is doing either any of  172
the following:  173
       (i) Traveling to or from work between the hours of  174
midnight and six a.m., provided that the holder has in the  175
holder's immediate possession written documentation from the  176
holder's employer.;  177
       (ii) Traveling to or from an official function sponsored  178
by the school the holder attends between the hours of midnight  179
and six a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder's  180
immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate  181
official of the school;  182
       (iii) Traveling to or from an official religious event  183
between the hours of midnight and six a.m., provided that the  184
holder has in the holder's immediate possession written  185
documentation from an appropriate official affiliated with the  186
event.  187
       (b) Division (B)(1)(b) of this section does not apply to  188
the holder of a probationary driver's license who is doing  189
either any of the following:  190
       (i) Traveling to or from work between the hours of one  191
a.m. and five a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder's  192
immediate possession written documentation from the holder's  193
S. B. No. 419  Page 8
As Passed by the Senate
employer.;  194
       (ii) Traveling to or from an official function sponsored  195
by the school the holder attends between the hours of one a.m.  196
and five a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder's  197
immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate  198
official of the school;  199
       (iii) Traveling to or from an official religious event  200
between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m., provided that the  201
holder has in the holder's immediate possession written  202
documentation from an appropriate official affiliated with the  203
event.  204
       (3) An employer, school official, or official affiliated  205
with a religious event is not liable in damages in a civil  206
action for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that  207
allegedly arises from, or is related to, the fact that the  208
employer, school official, or official affiliated with a  209
religious event provided the holder of a probationary driver's  210
license with the written documentation described in division (B)  211
(2) of this section.  212
       The registrar of motor vehicles shall make available at no  213
cost a form to serve as the written documentation described in  214
division (B)(2) of this section, and employers, school  215
officials, officials affiliated with religious events, and  216
holders of probationary driver's licenses may utilize that form  217
or may choose to utilize any other written documentation to meet  218
the requirements of that division.  219
       (4) No holder of a probationary driver's license who has  220
held the license for less than twelve months shall operate a  221
motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property  222
S. B. No. 419  Page 9
As Passed by the Senate
used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking  223
with more than one person who is not a family member occupying  224
the vehicle unless the probationary license holder is  225
accompanied by the probationary license holder's parent,  226
guardian, or custodian.  227
       (C) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of  228
division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section if, at the time of the  229
violation, an emergency existed that required the holder of the  230
probationary driver's license to operate a motor vehicle in  231
violation of division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section or the  232
holder was an emancipated minor.  233
       (D)(1) If a person is issued a probationary driver's  234
license prior to attaining the age of seventeen years and the  235
person pleads guilty to, is convicted of, or is adjudicated in  236
juvenile court of having committed a moving violation during the  237
six-month period commencing on the date on which the person is  238
issued the probationary driver's license, the court with  239
jurisdiction over the violation may order that the holder must  240
be accompanied by the holder's parent or guardian whenever the  241
holder is operating a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public  242
or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular  243
travel or parking for a period not to exceed six months or the  244
date the holder attains the age of seventeen years, whichever  245
occurs first.  246
       (2) Any person who is subject to the operating  247
restrictions established under division (D)(1) of this section  248
as a result of a first moving violation may petition the court  249
for driving privileges without being accompanied by the holder's  250
parent or guardian during the period of time determined by the  251
court under that division. In granting the driving privileges,  252
S. B. No. 419  Page 10
As Passed by the Senate
the court shall specify the purposes of the privileges and shall  253
issue the person appropriate forms setting forth the privileges  254
granted. If a person is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is  255
adjudicated in juvenile court of having committed a second or  256
subsequent moving violation, the court with jurisdiction over  257
the violation may terminate any driving privileges previously  258
granted under this division.  259
       (3) No person shall violate any operating restriction  260
imposed under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section.  261
       (E) No holder of a probationary license shall operate a  262
motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property  263
used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking  264
unless the total number of occupants of the vehicle does not  265
exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices  266
originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer,  267
and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available  268
elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.  269
       (F) A restricted license may be issued to a person who is  270
fourteen or fifteen years of age upon proof of hardship  271
satisfactory to the registrar of motor vehicles.  272
       (G) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the  273
contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of  274
a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop  275
the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether  276
each occupant of the motor vehicle is wearing all of the  277
available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining  278
device as required by division (E) of this section, or for the  279
sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons if the  280
requirement in that division has been or is being violated, or  281
for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a  282
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As Passed by the Senate
person for a violation of that requirement.  283
       (H) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the  284
contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of  285
a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop  286
the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether a  287
violation of division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section has been  288
or is being committed or for the sole purpose of issuing a  289
ticket, citation, or summons for such a violation or for causing  290
the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for such  291
violation.  292
       (I) As used in this section:  293
       (1) "Occupant restraining device" has the same meaning as  294
in section 4513.263 of the Revised Code.  295
       (2) "Family member" of a probationary license holder  296
includes any of the following:  297
       (a) A spouse;  298
       (b) A child or stepchild;  299
       (c) A parent, stepparent, grandparent, or parent-in-law;  300
       (d) An aunt or uncle;  301
       (e) A sibling, whether of the whole or half blood or by  302
adoption, a brother-in-law, or a sister-in-law;  303
       (f) A son or daughter of the probationary license holder's  304
stepparent if the stepparent has not adopted the probationary  305
license holder;  306
       (g) An eligible adult, as defined in section 4507.05 of  307
the Revised Code.  308
       (3) "Moving violation" means any violation of any statute  309
S. B. No. 419  Page 12
As Passed by the Senate
or ordinance that regulates the operation of vehicles,  310
streetcars, or trackless trolleys on the highways or streets.  311
"Moving violation" does not include a violation of section  312
4513.263 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent  313
municipal ordinance, or a violation of any statute or ordinance  314
regulating pedestrians or the parking of vehicles, vehicle size  315
or load limitations, vehicle fitness requirements, or vehicle  316
registration.  317
       (J) Whoever violates division (B)(1) or (4), (D)(3), or  318
(E) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.  319
       Section 2. That existing sections 4507.05 and 4507.071 of  320
the Revised Code are hereby repealed.  321