House Health Committee Adopts OBL-Backed Amendment to Medical Debt Bill

09/24/25

The Ohio House Health Committee met today and unanimously adopted an amendment to House Bill 257, the Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act, that was strongly supported by the Ohio Bankers League. This amendment narrows the definition of "medical debt" to align more closely with Maine law, ensuring the legislation is focused on obligations directly tied to health care services and goods, while excluding general credit products such as credit cards, home equity loans, or secured debt.

The adoption of this amendment is a significant step forward and addresses many of the concerns OBL raised in testimony last week. By clarifying the scope of the bill, the amendment strikes a more balanced approach-preserving protections for consumers struggling with medical debt while providing clarity for lenders and reducing compliance uncertainty.

Despite this progress, the committee did not take a vote on HB 257 itself. The future of the overall bill remains uncertain, as committee members continue to weigh the broader implications of capping interest rates, restricting wage garnishments, and prohibiting reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus.

OBL will continue to monitor developments closely and keep members informed. The League remains engaged with lawmakers and other stakeholders to ensure that any final version of HB 257 protects consumers without disrupting Ohio's credit markets or restricting access to affordable lending.

For further information or to see OBL's testimony, check out the article from last week HERE.