Community Updates
New Ohio Law Removes Barriers to Driver’s License Reinstatement
By: LASCO
Governor Mike DeWine has signed House Bill 29, a major step forward in helping Ohioans regain their driver’s licenses. The new law eliminates many of the financial penalties that previously led to license suspensions, making Ohio the 25th state to move away from debt-related driving restrictions.
What’s Changing:
- Suspensions for failure to pay court fines or fees will be automatically removed, including retroactive cases.
- No reinstatement fees will be charged for these suspensions.
- Suspensions for school truancy and certain non-driving drug offenses will be eliminated.
- The lookback period for driving without insurance offenses is reduced from five years to one year.
- Parents who lost their license due to child support issues can now request limited driving privileges in all cases.
These changes will help hundreds of thousands of Ohioans get back on the road—supporting employment, family responsibilities, and community participation.
Effective Date: April 10, 2025
To learn more about how this law may affect you or someone you know, visit the Ohio Poverty Law Center’s Return to the Road Campaign.