A proposal to shield the origin of Ohio’s execution drugs could see legislative action by the end of the year, top lawmakers said Thursday.
The Republican leaders of the Legislature said they’ve been working with prosecutors and the state’s attorney general on a plan, though they offered few details about it.
Senate President Keith Faber of Celina said the measure would likely shield the identities of drug makers that create specialty doses of execution drugs.
“I think the general idea is to the let the Department of Corrections acquire those things in private and not to have to disclose publicly who they’re buying their drugs from,” Faber said. “Who they buy their drugs from, I don’t think, is necessarily relevant to what their mission is.”
Executions are on hold until February because of challenges to the state’s two-drug lethal injection method, which has resulted in prolonged executions in Ohio and Arizona.
House Speaker William Batchelder of Medina said the bill could be introduced in the House as soon as Monday.
The leaders’ comments came after they addressed participants at a postelection conference where lawmakers and administration officials discussed policy issues facing the state.
Faber said he also anticipates Senate action on proposals addressing municipal taxes, red light cameras and gun rights. Batchelder said the House could take up bills dealing with credit unions and agricultural runoff during the final days that remain of the legislative session.
“Just a little bit about what happens in lame duck — it isn’t called lame duck for any particular reason except that you never know what the hell is going to happen next.” Batchelder said told the conference audience.