Ohio Senate Unanimously Votes to Pass Senate Bill 393: Help Support Strengthened Animal Protections as Bill Moves on to the House
Progress is being made in Ohio towards addressing bestiality, a violent and exploitative form of animal abuse that often results in death.
Ohio Senate Bill 393, introduced in the 136th General Assembly, strengthens penalties for sexually oriented offenses involving juveniles and animals. Sponsored by Senators Jane Timken and Nathan Manning, the bill aims to modernize state laws to match federal standards and address emerging digital crimes. It was passed unanimously by the Ohio Senate on May 20th, 2026.
The bill will increases the penalties for bestiality from a misdemeanor to a felony, while additionally expanding the scope of the law to include the creation or possession of materials depicting sexual conduct involving animals.
In her testimony on behalf of the Animal Welfare Institute, Vicki Deisner, Esq., stated, “Bestiality is more than a cultural taboo – it is a serious offense that exploits animals physically and psychologically, often times killing them, and is closely tied to violence and sexual abuse toward humans.”
The bill was referred to committee in the Ohio House of Representatives on May 27th, 2026.
Take Action
Your voice matters in advancing protections for animals across Ohio. Here’s how you can help:
1. Contact your Ohio Representatives and urge them to support and Increase the Penalties for Bestiality.
2. Share this action alert with your network to raise awareness.
3. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive animal welfare related news and resources in Ohio straight to your inbox.
