The Overview

The Overview Ohio is modernizing its commercial law to keep pace with how business actually works in the digital age. The bill, titled "Revise the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code," updates the state's Uniform Commercial Code (the rulebook that governs contracts, sales, and financial transactions) to address new technologies like cryptocurrency, digital tokens, and other electronic assets that didn't exist when the old rules were written. [](#ngr-82cf7420-8b0f-443e-b554-3fc485ca2602)

What the Law Does

The bill establishes a new set of rules, called Article 12, specifically for transactions involving digital assets like cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), as well as a new category called controllable electronic records (CERs).

By the Numbers

The House passed HB 195 on Nov. 6, 2025, with 83 yes votes and 7 no votes. The bill passed the Senate on June 4, 2026, with 31 yes votes and 0 no votes. The House concurred in Senate amendments on June 10, 2026, voting 93 to 2 in favor, with one vote unresolved.

The Debate

The bill sailed through both chambers with little controversy, reflecting the technical and consensus-driven nature of Uniform Commercial Code updates. Rep. Mathews, one of the bill's lead sponsors, explained the rationale: "When the technology of business changes, it is the duty of the legislature to evaluate the best way to update the laws."

The overwhelming vote margins: 83–7 in the House, 31–0 in the Senate, and 93–2 on final concurrence, show that lawmakers from both parties agreed the update was necessary. The changes align with model amendments published by the Uniform Law Commission in 2022, which other states have also adopted to modernize their commercial codes.

Legislative Status

The bill was sponsored by Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on July 7, 2026, and becomes effective on Oct. 6, 2026.

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This article was generated by AI pulling from data. Each article is edited by an editor for accuracy and clarity.

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