As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

H. B. No. 18

2025-2026

Representative Demetriou

Cosponsors: Representatives Fischer, Johnson, King, Lorenz, Mathews, T., Williams

A BILL

To amend sections 145.11, 742.11, 3307.15, 3309.15, 3770.06, and 5505.06 and to enact section 135.146 of the Revised Code to address investments in exchange-traded products by the state retirement systems, to permit the Treasurer of State to invest certain interim funds in digital assets, and to name this act the Ohio Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 145.11, 742.11, 3307.15, 3309.15, 3770.06, and 5505.06 be amended and section 135.146 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 135.146. (A) As used in this section,

(1) "Digital asset" means a virtual currency, cryptocurrency, native electronic asset, stablecoin, non-fungible token, or any other digital-only asset that confers economic, proprietary, or access rights or powers.

(2) "Exchange-traded product" means a security, as defined in section 1707.01 of the Revised Code, that meets any of the following requirements:

(a) The security is listed, or authorized for listing, on the New York stock exchange, the American stock exchange, or the national market system of the NASDAQ stock market, or any successor to such entities.

(b) The security is listed, or authorized for listing, on a national securities exchange or system, or on a tier or segment of such exchange or system, designated by the United States securities and exchange commission in rule 146(b) promulgated under section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933.

(c) The security is listed, or authorized for listing, on a national securities exchange or system, or on a tier or segment of such exchange or system, that has listing standards that the division of securities, on its own initiative or on the basis of an application, determines by rule are substantially similar to the listing standards applicable to securities described in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.

(d) The security is a security of the same issuer that is equal in seniority or that is a senior security to a security described in division (A)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of this section.

(3) "Private key" means a unique element of cryptographic data used for signing transactions on a blockchain that is known to the owner of the unique element.

(4) "Secure custody solution" means a technological product or blended product and service that has all of the following characteristics:

(a) The private keys that secure digital assets are exclusively known and accessible by the government entity.

(b) The private keys that secure digital assets are exclusively contained within an encrypted environment and are accessible only via end-to-end encrypted channels.

(d) Any hardware that contains the private keys that secure digital assets is maintained in at least two geographically diversified specially designated secure data centers.

(e) The secure custody solution enforces a multi-party governance structure for authorizing transactions, enforces user access controls, and logs all user-initiated actions.

(f) The provider of the secure custody solution has implemented a disaster recovery protocol that ensures customer access to digital assets in the event the provider becomes unavailable.

(g) The secure custody solution undergoes regular code audits and penetration testing from audit firms, and any identified vulnerabilities are promptly remedied.

(5) "Qualified custodian" means any federal or state-chartered bank, trust company, or a company regulated by the state that has custody of a digital asset for an exchange-traded product.

(B) Subject to the requirements of this section, the treasurer of state may invest interim moneys from any of the following funds in digital assets:

(1) The general revenue fund;

(2) The budget stabilization fund created under section 131.43 of the Revised Code;

(3) The deferred prizes trust fund created under division (C) of section 3770.06 of the Revised Code.

(C) The investments in digital assets from any of the funds described in division (B)(1) to (3) of this section shall not exceed, in the aggregate, ten per cent of the balance of the fund at the time of the investment.

(D) The treasurer of state shall not invest in digital assets that do not meet both of the following:

(1) The digital assets are an exchange-traded product.

(2) The average market capitalization of the digital assets over the preceding twelve months is at least seven hundred fifty billion dollars, as determined by the treasurer of state using a commercially reasonable method.

(E) Any digital asset acquired as an investment under this section must be held in one of the following ways:

(1) Directly by the treasurer of state through the use of a secure custody solution;

(2) On behalf of the state by a qualified custodian;

(3) In the form of an exchange-traded product issued by an investment company registered under Chapter 1707. of the Revised Code.

(F) The treasurer of state may loan the digital assets acquired as an investment under this section to bring further returns to the applicable fund if the treasurer of state determines that the loan does not increase the financial risk of the investment.

(G) The treasurer of state may adopt rules for the purposes of administering this section.

Sec. 145.11. (A) The members of the public employees retirement board shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 145.23 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the public employees retirement system; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

The board, in accordance with its fiduciary duties described under this section, shall make investment decisions with the sole purpose of maximizing the return on its investments. The board shall not make an investment decision with the primary purpose of influencing any social or environmental policy or attempting to influence the governance of any corporation.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the board from investing in an exchange-traded product as defined in section 135.146 of the Revised Code.

To facilitate investment of the funds, the board may establish a partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation, including a corporation exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended, or any other legal entity authorized to transact business in this state.

(B) In exercising its fiduciary responsibility with respect to the investment of the funds, it shall be the intent of the board to give consideration to investments that enhance the general welfare of the state and its citizens where the investments offer quality, return, and safety comparable to other investments currently available to the board. In fulfilling this intent, equal consideration shall also be given to investments otherwise qualifying under this section that involve minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women, either alone or in joint venture with other firms.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 145.114 and 145.116 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

The board shall not adopt a policy, or take any action to promote a policy, under which the board makes investment decisions with the primary purpose of influencing any social or environmental policy or attempting to influence the governance of any corporation.

When reporting on the performance of investments, the board shall comply with the performance presentation standards established by the association for investment management and research.

(C) All investments shall be purchased at current market prices and the evidences of title of the investments shall be placed in the hands of the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as custodian thereof, or in the hands of the treasurer of state's authorized agent. Evidences of title of the investments so purchased may be deposited by the treasurer of state for safekeeping with an authorized agent, selected by the treasurer of state, who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state or the agent shall collect the principal, dividends, distributions, and interest thereon as they become due and payable and place them when so collected into the custodial funds.

The treasurer of state shall pay for investments purchased by the retirement board on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the purchase and pending receipt of the evidence of title of the investment by the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent. The board may sell investments held by the board, and the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment to the purchaser on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the investments. The amount received shall be placed in the custodial funds. The board and the treasurer of state may enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and sale of investments under this division and the custody of the investments.

(D) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the public employees retirement board.

(E) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Sec. 742.11. (A) The members of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 742.59 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the Ohio police and fire pension fund; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the disability and pension fund so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the board from investing in an exchange-traded product as defined in section 135.146 of the Revised Code.

To facilitate investment of the funds, the board may establish a partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation, including a corporation exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, or any other legal entity authorized to transact business in this state.

(B) In exercising its fiduciary responsibility with respect to the investment of the funds, it shall be the intent of the board to give consideration to investments that enhance the general welfare of the state and its citizens where the investments offer quality, return, and safety comparable to other investments currently available to the board. In fulfilling this intent, equal consideration shall be given to investments otherwise qualifying under this section that involve minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women, either alone or in joint venture with other firms.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 742.114 and 742.116 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and joint ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

When reporting on the performance of investments, the board shall comply with the performance presentation standards established by the association for investment management and research.

(C) All bonds, notes, certificates, stocks, or other evidences of investments purchased by the board shall be delivered to the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as custodian thereof, or to the treasurer of state's authorized agent, and the treasurer of state or the agent shall collect the principal, interest, dividends, and distributions that become due and payable and place them when so collected into the custodial funds. Evidences of title of the investments may be deposited by the treasurer of state for safekeeping with an authorized agent, selected by the treasurer of state, who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall pay for the investments purchased by the board on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the purchase and pending receipt of the evidence of title of the investment by the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent. The board may sell investments held by the board, and the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment to the purchaser on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the investments. The amount received shall be placed into the custodial funds. The board and the treasurer of state may enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and sale of investments under this division and the custody of the investments.

(D) All of the board's business shall be transacted, all its funds shall be invested, all warrants for money drawn and payments shall be made, and all of its cash, securities, and other property shall be held, in the name of the board or its nominee, provided that nominees are authorized by board resolution for the purpose of facilitating the ownership and transfer of investments.

(E) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(F) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Sec. 3307.15. (A) The members of the state teachers retirement board shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 3307.14 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the system; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the board from investing in an exchange-traded product as defined in section 135.146 of the Revised Code.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 3307.152 and 3307.154 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

When reporting on the performance of investments, the board shall comply with the performance presentation standards established by the CFA institute.

(D) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the board.

(E) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Sec. 3309.15. (A) The members of the school employees retirement board shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 3309.60 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the school employees retirement system; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the board from investing in an exchange-traded product as defined in section 135.146 of the Revised Code.

The board may establish a partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation, including a corporation exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, or any other legal entity authorized to transact business in this state.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 3309.157 and 3309.159 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

If the board contracts with a person, including an agent or investment manager, for the management or investment of the funds, the board shall require the person to comply with the global investment performance standards established by the chartered financial analyst institute, or a successor organization, when reporting on the performance of investments.

(C) All evidences of title of investments purchased by the board under this section shall be delivered to the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as custodian thereof, or to the treasurer of state's authorized agent, and the treasurer of state or the agent shall collect principal, interest, dividends, and distributions that become due and payable and place the same when so collected into the custodial funds. Evidences of title of the investments may be deposited by the treasurer of state for safekeeping with an authorized agent, selected by the treasurer of state, who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall pay for the investments purchased by the board pending receipt of the evidence of title of the investments by the treasurer of state or to the treasurer of state's authorized agent, and on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the purchase. The board may sell any investments held by the board, and the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment to the purchaser on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the investments. The amount received shall be placed into the custodial funds. The board and the treasurer of state may enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and sale of investments under this division and the custody of the investment.

(D) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the school employees retirement board.

(E) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Sec. 3770.06. (A) There is hereby created the state lottery gross revenue fund, which shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state but shall not be part of the state treasury. All gross revenues received from sales of lottery tickets, fines, fees, and related proceeds in connection with the statewide lottery, all gross proceeds of lottery sports gaming described in sections 3770.23 to 3770.25 of the Revised Code, and all gross proceeds from statewide joint lottery games shall be deposited into the fund. The treasurer of state shall invest any portion of the fund not needed for immediate use in the same manner as, and subject to all provisions of law with respect to the investment of, state funds, and as permitted by section 135.146 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall disburse money from the fund on order of the director of the state lottery commission or the director's designee.

Except for gross proceeds from statewide joint lottery games, all revenues of the state lottery gross revenue fund that are not paid to holders of winning lottery tickets, that are not required to meet short-term prize liabilities, that are not credited to lottery sales agents in the form of bonuses, commissions, or reimbursements, that are not paid to financial institutions to reimburse those institutions for sales agent nonsufficient funds, and that are collected from sales agents for remittance to insurers under contract to provide sales agent bonding services shall be transferred to the state lottery fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. In addition, all revenues of the state lottery gross revenue fund that represent the gross proceeds from the statewide joint lottery games and that are not paid to holders of winning lottery tickets, that are not required to meet short-term prize liabilities, that are not credited to lottery sales agents in the form of bonuses, commissions, or reimbursements, and that are not necessary to cover operating expenses associated with those games or to otherwise comply with the agreements signed by the governor that the director enters into under division (J) of section 3770.02 of the Revised Code or the rules the commission adopts under division (B)(5) of section 3770.03 of the Revised Code shall be transferred to the state lottery fund. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys shall be disbursed from the fund pursuant to vouchers approved by the director. Total disbursements for monetary prize awards to holders of winning lottery tickets in connection with the statewide lottery, other than lottery sports gaming, and purchases of goods and services awarded as prizes to holders of winning lottery tickets shall be of an amount equal to at least fifty per cent of the total revenue accruing from the sale of lottery tickets.

(B) Pursuant to Section 6 of Article XV, Ohio Constitution, there is hereby established in the state treasury the lottery profits education fund. Whenever, in the judgment of the director of the state lottery commission, the amount to the credit of the state lottery fund that does not represent proceeds from statewide joint lottery games is in excess of that needed to meet the maturing obligations of the commission and as working capital for its further operations, the director of the state lottery commission shall recommend the amount of the excess to be transferred to the lottery profits education fund, and the director of budget and management may transfer the excess to the lottery profits education fund in connection with the statewide lottery. In addition, whenever, in the judgment of the director of the state lottery commission, the amount to the credit of the state lottery fund that represents proceeds from statewide joint lottery games equals the entire net proceeds of those games as described in division (B)(5) of section 3770.03 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under that division, the director of the state lottery commission shall recommend the amount of the proceeds to be transferred to the lottery profits education fund, and the director of budget and management may transfer those proceeds to the lottery profits education fund. Investment earnings of the lottery profits education fund shall be credited to the fund. The lottery profits education fund shall be used solely for the support of elementary, secondary, vocational, and special education programs as determined in appropriations made by the general assembly, or as provided in applicable bond proceedings for the payment of debt service on obligations issued to pay costs of capital facilities, including those for a system of common schools throughout the state pursuant to section 2n of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. When determining the availability of money in the lottery profits education fund, the director of budget and management may consider all balances and estimated revenues of the fund.

(C) There is hereby established in the state treasury the deferred prizes trust fund. With the approval of the director of budget and management, an amount sufficient to fund annuity prizes shall be transferred from the state lottery fund and credited to the trust fund. The treasurer of state shall credit all earnings arising from investments purchased under this division to the trust fund. Within sixty days after the end of each fiscal year, the treasurer of state shall certify to the director of budget and management whether the actuarial amount of the trust fund is sufficient over the fund's life for continued funding of all remaining deferred prize liabilities as of the last day of the fiscal year just ended. Also, within that sixty days, the director of budget and management shall certify the amount of investment earnings necessary to have been credited to the trust fund during the fiscal year just ending to provide for such continued funding of deferred prizes. Any earnings credited in excess of the latter certified amount shall be transferred to the lottery profits education fund.

To provide all or a part of the amounts necessary to fund deferred prizes awarded by the commission in connection with the statewide lottery, the treasurer of state, in consultation with the commission, may invest moneys contained in the deferred prizes trust fund which represents proceeds from the statewide lottery in obligations of the type permitted for the investment of state funds but whose maturities are thirty years or less. Notwithstanding the requirements of any other section of the Revised Code, to provide all or part of the amounts necessary to fund deferred prizes awarded by the commission in connection with statewide joint lottery games, the treasurer of state, in consultation with the commission, may invest moneys in the trust fund which represent proceeds derived from the statewide joint lottery games in accordance with the rules the commission adopts under division (B)(5) of section 3770.03 of the Revised Code. Investments of the trust fund are not subject to the provisions of division (A)(11) of section 135.143 of the Revised Code limiting to twenty-five per cent the amount of the state's total average portfolio that may be invested in debt interests other than commercial paper and limiting to five per cent the amount that may be invested in debt interests, including commercial paper, of a single issuer.

All purchases made under this division shall be effected on a delivery versus payment method and shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state.

The treasurer of state may retain an investment advisor, if necessary. The commission shall pay any costs incurred by the treasurer of state in retaining an investment advisor.

(D) The auditor of state shall conduct annual audits of all funds and any other audits as the auditor of state or the general assembly considers necessary. The auditor of state may examine all records, files, and other documents of the commission, and records of lottery sales agents that pertain to their activities as agents, for purposes of conducting authorized audits.

(E) The state lottery commission shall establish an internal audit plan before the beginning of each fiscal year, subject to the approval of the office of internal audit in the office of budget and management. At the end of each fiscal year, the commission shall prepare and submit an annual report to the office of internal audit for the office's review and approval, specifying the internal audit work completed by the end of that fiscal year and reporting on compliance with the annual internal audit plan.

(F) Whenever, in the judgment of the director of budget and management, an amount of net state lottery proceeds is necessary to be applied to the payment of debt service on obligations, all as defined in sections 151.01 and 151.03 of the Revised Code, the director shall transfer that amount directly from the state lottery fund or from the lottery profits education fund to the bond service fund defined in those sections. The provisions of this division are subject to any prior pledges or obligation of those amounts to the payment of bond service charges as defined in division (C) of section 3318.21 of the Revised Code, as referred to in division (B) of this section.

Sec. 5505.06. (A) The members of the state highway patrol retirement board shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 5505.03 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the system; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the board from investing in an exchange-traded product as defined in section 135.146 of the Revised Code.

(B) In exercising its fiduciary responsibility with respect to the investment of the funds, it shall be the intent of the board to give consideration to investments that enhance the general welfare of the state and its citizens where the investments offer quality, return, and safety comparable to other investments currently available to the board. In fulfilling this intent, equal consideration shall be given to investments otherwise qualifying under this section that involve minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women, either alone or in joint venture with other firms.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 5505.068 and 5505.0610 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and joint ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

When reporting on the performance of investments, the board shall comply with the performance presentation standards established by the association for investment management and research.

(C) All evidences of title of the investments purchased by the board shall be delivered to the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as the custodian thereof, or to the treasurer of state's authorized agent. Evidences of title of the investments may be deposited by the treasurer of state for safekeeping with an authorized agent, selected by the treasurer of state, who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall collect the principal, interest, dividends, and distributions that become due and payable and, when collected, shall credit them to the custodial funds.

The treasurer of state shall pay for the investments purchased by the board on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the purchase and pending receipt of the evidence of title of the investment by the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent. The board may sell investments held by the board, and the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment to the purchaser on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the investments. The amount received shall be placed in the custodial funds. The board and the treasurer of state may enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and sale of investments under this division and the custody of the investments.

(E) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the board.

(F) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Section 2. That existing sections 145.11, 742.11, 3307.15, 3309.15, 3770.06, and 5505.06 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3. This act shall be known as the Ohio Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Act.

Ohio H 18

Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Act

2025 OH H 18

Ohio H 18

Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Act

2025 OH H 18