Ohio HB693: A Contested Bill That Would Define Parental Alienation
This page is general information about a pending bill, not legal advice. For how this would apply to a specific case, consult an attorney licensed in Ohio.
Bill: OH HB693 (136th General Assembly) • Ohio • In committee (House Judiciary) • Last checked: June 2026
Ohio HB693, titled the “Affirming Families First Act,” would add a statutory definition of parental alienation to Ohio law. That definition sits inside a broader and politically contested bill, so this page describes both the alienation provision and the larger measure it is part of, without taking a side. It is in committee.
Estrangement caused by genuine abuse is not parental alienation. A statutory definition does not change that, and this page tracks what the bill says rather than endorsing how its definition would be applied.
What this bill is
HB693 is best understood as two things at once. Its primary thrust addresses gender identity and custody. Alongside that, it would write a definition of parental alienation into Ohio statute, defining it as a child’s unjustified rejection of a fit parent.
Why it matters for parental alienation
The alienation piece is direct: a statutory definition shapes how courts, evaluators, and guardians ad litem describe and analyze a child’s rejection of a parent. But because the definition is packaged with contested provisions on gender identity, and because some clinicians dispute the science the bill relies on, this is a case where the concept of parental alienation is advancing through a vehicle that carries significant controversy. For readers tracking alienation law, the takeaway is that the definition and the politics around it cannot be separated here.
What the bill would do
The bill’s primary effect would be to prevent a parent from facing an abuse or neglect finding, or losing custody, solely for not affirming a child’s gender identity; it asserts that affirming a child’s biological sex is not contrary to the child’s best interest. Alongside that, it would add a definition of parental alienation to Ohio law. A Legislative Service Commission analysis of the bill exists. Supporters frame alienation as a documented cause of harm to children. Critics, including some clinicians, call the bill’s parental alienation framing junk science and object to the gender-identity provisions.
Where it stands
HB693 was introduced on February 18, 2026, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it remains. No floor vote has been scheduled.
Updates
February 2026
HB693 was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, and a Legislative Service Commission analysis was produced. What it means: a statutory parental alienation definition is now in play in Ohio, but because it is tied to contested gender-identity provisions, its path and its reception are shaped by that larger debate rather than by the alienation question alone.
Common questions
Is HB693 only about parental alienation? No. Its primary provisions concern gender identity and custody. The parental alienation definition is one part of a broader bill.
Why is the bill contested? The gender-identity provisions are politically divisive, and some clinicians dispute the science behind the bill’s framing of parental alienation.
Is it law yet? No. As of June 2026 it is in committee with no floor vote scheduled.
Sources
- Ohio Legislature, HB693 (136th General Assembly). https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb693
If you are struggling right now
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
- NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264
Author: Alex Buckles (PAC Founder) • Last reviewed: June 6, 2026
