Protect Free Speech — Call Your Representative!

As soon as this Wednesday, the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee could vote to approve Senate Bill 250 (SB250), a dangerous law that criminalizes peaceful protest of pipelines and other facilities deemed ‘critical infrastructure’.

If approved, the new law would have a terrifyingly chilling effect on our constitutional right to protest. In addition, the bill’s vague language could entrap landowners with infrastructure on their property. The law paves the way for industry to abuse eminent domain by claiming that landowners are “impeding” their commercial interests by opposing a pipeline, power line, or other facilities deemed critical infrastructure.

In its current form, the bill imposes harsh penalties for even organizing a protest with its conspiracy provisions. The clear intention of this legislation is to silence dissent.

Take Action: Call committee chair Senator Bacon NOW and urge him to stop SB250 and protect free speech and landowner rights.

When you are connected, please give them your name and zip code. Then tell them:

I am calling Senator Bacon to urge him to stop Senate Bill 250 from advancing through the Judiciary Committee. The proposed bill threatens Ohioans’ constitutional right to free speech and assembly. The bill also threatens landowners’ ability to say no to pipelines and other projects deemed ‘critical infrastructure’. There are already laws on the books against trespass and vandalism – it is clear that this law is specifically designed to chill legitimate public opposition to infrastructure projects and trample on the rights of landowners. Stop SB250!