Effective April 6, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 175 into law. Prior to the enactment of Senate Bill 175, individuals had no duty to retreat when exercising self-defense in only two locations: (1) in his/her vehicle or (2) his/her residence. Ohioans may now use lethal force in self-defense anywhere they have a legal right to be. The trier of fact does not assess whether the litigant had the ability to retreat when examining the party’s assertion of self-defense. This modification is applicable to both criminal and civil tort claims regarding self-defense.

Effective January 1, 2021, Ohio modified its minimum wage and created three (3) different categories of pay The minimum wage in Ohio now differentiates between “large employers” and “small employers.” A “large employer” is defined as an employer who brings in more than $323,000 in gross receipts per year. If you are categorized as a large employer, the requisite minimum wage is $8.80 per hour. A “small employer” is one that accrues less than $323,000 in gross receipts per year. The minimum wage for “small employers” is $7.25 per hour. For employees who receive tips (e.g., bartenders and service industry workers), the minimum wage is $4.40 per hour.