Except as otherwise provided in section3517.991of the Revised Code:
(A)(1) A candidate whose campaign committee violates division (A), (B), (C), (D), or (V) of section3517.13of the Revised Code, or a treasurer of a campaign committee who violates any of those divisions, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(2) Whoever violates division (E) or (X)(5) of section3517.13or division (E)(1) of section3517.1014of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(B) An entity that violates division (G)(1) of section3517.101of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day of violation.
(C) Whoever violates division (G)(2) of section3517.101, division (G) of section3517.13, or division (E)(2) or (3) of section3517.1014of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars or, if the offender is a person who was nominated or elected to public office, shall forfeit the nomination or the office to which the offender was elected, or both.
(D) Whoever violates division (F) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than three times the amount contributed.
(E) Whoever violates division (H) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
(F) Whoever violates division (O), (P), or (Q) of section3517.13of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(G) A state or county committee of a political party that violates division (B)(1) of section3517.18of the Revised Code as that section existed before its repeal by H.B. 166 of the 133rd general assembly shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the improper expenditure.
(H) An entity that violates division (H) of section3517.101of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than twice the amount of the improper expenditure or use.
(I)(1) Any individual who violates division (B)(1) of section3517.102of the Revised Code and knows that the contribution the individual makes violates that division shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any political action committee that violates division (B)(2) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(3) Any campaign committee that violates division (B)(3) or (5) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(4)(a) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (B)(6) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division, as applicable.
(b) Any state political party, county political party, or state candidate fund of a state political party or county political party that violates division (B)(6) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division, as applicable.
(c) Any political contributing entity that violates division (B)(7) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(5) Any political party that violates division (B)(4) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(6) Notwithstanding divisions (I)(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this section, no violation of division (B) of section3517.102of the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not file a complaint under section3517.16of the Revised Code, if the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted by that division meets either of the following conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after it is accepted.
(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount has been received.
(J)(1) Any campaign committee that violates division (C)(1), (2), (3), or (6) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2)(a) Any county political party that violates division (C)(4)(a)(ii) or (iii) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted.
(b) Any county political party that violates division (C)(4)(a)(i) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(c) Any state political party that violates division (C)(4)(b) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount from its state candidate fund equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(3) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (C)(5) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(4) Any political action committee or political contributing entity that violates division (C)(7) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(5) Notwithstanding divisions (J)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section, no violation of division (C) of section3517.102of the Revised Code occurs, and the secretary of state shall not file a complaint under section3517.16of the Revised Code, if the amount transferred or contributed in excess of the amount permitted to be accepted by that division meets either of the following conditions:
(a) It is completely refunded within five business days after its acceptance.
(b) It is completely refunded on or before the tenth business day after notification to the recipient of the excess transfer or contribution by the board of elections or the secretary of state that a transfer or contribution in excess of the permitted amount has been received.
(K)(1) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (F)(1) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(2) Any legislative campaign fund that violates division (F)(2) of section3517.102of the Revised Code shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the credit of the Ohio election integrity commission fund all excess contributions not disposed of as required by division (E) of section3517.102of the Revised Code.
(L) Whoever violates section3517.105of the Revised Code shall be fined one thousand dollars.
(M)(1) Whoever solicits a contribution in violation of section3517.092or violates division (B) of section3517.09of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section3517.092of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in violation of either of those divisions and shall return to the contributor any amount so accepted. Whoever unknowingly accepts a contribution in violation of division (B) or (C) of section3517.092of the Revised Code shall return to the contributor any amount so accepted.
(N) Whoever violates division (S) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount of funds transferred or three times the value of the assets transferred in violation of that division.
(O) Any campaign committee that accepts a contribution or contributions in violation of section3517.108of the Revised Code, uses a contribution in violation of that section, or fails to dispose of excess contributions in violation of that section shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted, used, or kept in violation of that section.
(P) Any political party, state candidate fund, legislative candidate fund, or campaign committee that violates division (T) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed or accepted in violation of that section.
(Q) A treasurer of a committee or another person who violates division (U) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.
(R) Whoever violates division (I) or (J) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars. Whenever a person is found guilty of violating division (I) or (J) of section3517.13of the Revised Code, the contract awarded in violation of either of those divisions shall be rescinded if its terms have not yet been performed.
(S) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee who violates section3517.081of the Revised Code, and a candidate whose campaign committee violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or another person who violates division (C) of section3517.10of the Revised Code, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(T) A candidate whose campaign committee violates or a treasurer of a committee who violates division (B) of section3517.09of the Revised Code, or a candidate whose campaign committee violates or a treasurer of a campaign committee or another person who violates division (C) of section3517.09of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
(U) Whoever violates section3517.20of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(V) Whoever violates section3517.21or3517.22of the Revised Code shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.
(W) Any campaign committee that fails to file the declaration of filing-day finances required by division (F) of section3517.109of the Revised Code shall be fined twenty-five dollars for each day of violation.
(X)(1) Any campaign committee that fails to dispose of excess funds or excess aggregate contributions under division (B) of section3517.109of the Revised Code in the manner required by division (C) of that section shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit into the Ohio election integrity commission fund created under section111.29of the Revised Code all funds not disposed of pursuant to that division.
(2) Any treasurer of a transition fund that fails to dispose of assets remaining in the transition fund as required under division (H)(1) or (2) of section3517.1014of the Revised Code shall give to the treasurer of state for deposit into the Ohio election integrity commission fund all assets not disposed of pursuant to that division.
(Y) Any individual, campaign committee, political action committee, political contributing entity, legislative campaign fund, political party, treasurer of a transition fund, or other entity that violates any provision of sections3517.09to3517.12of the Revised Code for which no penalty is provided for under any other division of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.
(Z)(1) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(1) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount contributed, expended, or promised in violation of that division or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater.
(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (W)(2) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount solicited or accepted in violation of that division or ten thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater.
(AA) Whoever knowingly violates division (C) or (D) of section3517.1011of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars plus not more than one thousand dollars for each day of violation.
(BB)(1) Subject to division (BB)(2) of this section, whoever violates division (H) of section3517.1011of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount up to three times the amount disbursed for the direct costs of airing the communication made in violation of that division.
(2) Whoever has been ordered by the Ohio election integrity commission or by a court of competent jurisdiction to cease making communications in violation of division (H) of section3517.1011of the Revised Code who again violates that division shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount disbursed for the direct costs of airing the communication made in violation of that division.
(CC)(1) Any corporation or labor organization that violates division (X)(3)(a) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount given in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any state or county political party that violates division (X)(3)(b) of section3517.13of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(DD)(1) Any campaign committee or person who violates division (C)(1)(b) or (c) of section3517.1014of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount donated in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
(2) Any officeholder or treasurer of a transition fund who violates division (C)(3)(a) or (b) of section3517.1014of the Revised Code shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount accepted in excess of the amount permitted by that division.
Last updated September 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM