Ohio Senate Bill 348 is not law as of September 8, 2026. The official Senate record still lists the introduced version in the Small Business and Economic Opportunity Committee, with neither chamber having passed it.
The proposal would require specified liquor permit holders to provide drink drug testing devices and post a notice. Its standards include at least ten controlled substances, results within five minutes, and manufacture in the United States or its territories. These requirements must be read together; a marketing claim about a test’s speed or substance count alone cannot establish eligibility.
Where SB 348 Stands
The status history records introduction on February 2, 2026 and referral to the Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity Committee on February 11, 2026. The committee activity page records a first hearing with sponsor testimony from Senators William P. DeMora and Louis W. Blessing III on May 13, 2026, followed by a second hearing with proponent testimony on June 3, 2026.
Those hearings were not passage. The record checked for this update shows no committee report or chamber passage. SB 348 itself imposes no current obligation. This is not a finding about every other state or local rule or a venue’s other duties.
The Proposed Device Standard
The introduced text, proposed §4301.73(A)(4), and the Legislative Service Commission analysis describe four cumulative conditions:
| Proposed condition | What the text specifies |
|---|---|
| Testing method | Test strips or similar technology detecting drugs in beer or intoxicating liquor |
| Substance coverage | Capability to detect at least 10 controlled substances |
| Result time | No more than five minutes after testing the beverage |
| Manufacturing location | United States or its territories |
“No more than five minutes” includes a result at five minutes; the earlier wording “under five minutes” was too narrow. The bill separately defines date rape drugs using a list of example substances. The device definition itself sets the ten-controlled-substance minimum without listing ten mandatory individual analytes.
Which Venues and Duties Are Proposed?
Proposed §4301.73(A)(5) lists A-1, A-1-A, A-1c, A-2, A-2f, F-2 and D-class permit holders, while (A)(2) excludes D-6 and D-8 from the D-class definition. The LSC analysis describes coverage generally spanning bars, restaurants, breweries and wineries. A venue’s actual permit matters.
Under proposed subsection (B), covered permit holders would:
- Provide a qualifying device free or for a reasonable amount based on wholesale cost.
- Display a prominent notice that devices are available.
- Ensure devices remain within the product label’s expiry date or recommended period of use.
Subsection (C) proposes protection concerning defective tests and inaccurate results, including false positives and false negatives. This is not a current or general liability guarantee. The earlier article’s categorical “no penalties” claim and conclusions about weak enforcement have been removed; this article does not determine enforcement under other provisions of Ohio law.
Product Evidence and Personal Use
SB 348 does not approve a named product. Before making procurement decisions based on this proposal, operators would need evidence for the exact device’s detection coverage, result time and manufacturing location, alongside its instructions and expiry information.
Our evidence and limitations page summarizes DrinkCheck’s lab validation and explains what a drink test cannot tell you. This article cannot confirm that DrinkCheck meets Ohio’s proposed requirements.
Drink testing does not replace medical assistance. If someone needs urgent help, call 911 without waiting for testing.
Venues that offer drink testing voluntarily, independent of SB 348, can request a quote for drink test strips for bars and venues.
For related proposals and enacted measures, see our selected state and city drink-testing overview. Our drink spiking laws tracker keeps a dated status of SB 348 and other selected US measures, each with its official source and check date.
Correction, September 8, 2026: This update clarifies the proposed five-minute limit and US-or-territories manufacturing requirement, removes unsupported product claims and an unverified sponsor quotation, and limits current-obligation statements to SB 348 itself.
Status and sources checked: September 8, 2026. This article is informational and does not constitute a professional legal review or product approval.
