Jon S. Hepp Jr.
Family Rights Advocate
October 1, 2025
Opponent Testimony on BILL SB174
Chairman Manning, Vice Chair Reynolds, Ranking Member Hicks-Hudson, and members of the
committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide OPPONENT testimony on SENATE Bill
174. My name is Jon Hepp Jr and I am testifying because I DO NOT BELIEVE that this Bill will
positively affect children of families going through a Divorce.
I am an OPPONENT of SB174 because:
1. SB174 deletes "parental rights" and repeals "shared parenting" from the statutes.
2. SB174 will mean that “shared parenting”, part of Ohio law since the 1980s, will no
longer exist.
3. SB174 will mean that a judge can terminate a parent’s rights based on discretion.
4. SB174 will give full discretion to judges over not only those who are involved with
divorce or custody issues, but the intact families of Ohio as well.
5. SB174 will affect cases where parents live in two different states; with all other state
using “residential parent” verse the proposed “designated” parent. Thus, this will
increase litigation and the cost of litigation to each parent and state/county justice
system.
6. SB174 will mean that a never-married father will not be allowed to file for custody of
their child in Ohio.
7. SB174 will mean that total strangers to be able to file for custody of a minor child.
8. This bill allows courts to overrule the judgement of fit parents, even when the parents
agree! [Courts will have to pick a "designated" parent which will perpetuate the
conflict between parents that already exist within the courts today.]
9. SB174 is court-centered and NOT child-centered.
10. A majority of Ohioans believe that children have the right to spend equal or near equal
time with both parents after a divorce or separation.
11. This Bill that was written by judges and attorneys who will ultimately benefit from this
Bill because it continues to create more conflict and litigation for Ohio families.
What is 'IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN (Child) IN OHIO?
NOT SB174
This bill is NOT in the best interest of children. While family courts do need reform, the State of
Ohio should be working to ensure children are raised by both parents equally (40 years of
research shows that children do best with two equally involved parents).
Again, SB174 deletes "parental rights" and repeals "shared parenting" from the statutes; and it
also gives courts more discretion to apply their own personal biases and opinions about what is
best for a child.
~~~What is BEST for Ohio's children?
PLEASE ~ PLEASE ~ consider what's in the 'BEST INTEREST of OUR CHILDREN' when
considering how this Bill could and would NEGATIVELY affect the children of Ohio whose
parents are divorcing or who are already divorced!!!
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide OPPONENT testimony.
Jon S. Hepp Jr.
Family Rights Advocate
I have not had any contact with my children since their mother filed for divorce in 2012 (over 13
yrs ago). I spent over $100k just trying to get ‘standard visitation' with my children.
How is that possible you ask? Well, their mother has done everything she could possibly do to
keep our children from my family and me. My ex-wife:
• filed for our divorce in Lorain County - even though we lived in Cuyahoga
County, because she works for Children Services of Lorain County;
• she lied to (in) Court & manipulated the parties (GAL / Therapist) the Court
appointed to help with assessments that were Ordered by the Court;
• she enlisted the full power of the Silver Bullet Technique, which her Attorney
advised & helped her orchestrate;
• and, she ‘brainwashed’ our kids which has caused them to be ‘fearful’ of my
family and myself.
She did all of this so she could have the upper hand and WIN the divorce; not taking into
consideration ‘the Best Interest of Our Children’ or the long-term effects on Our Children.
NOT SB174
This bill is NOT in the best interest of children. While family courts do need reform, the State of
Ohio should be working to ensure children are raised by both parents equally (40 years of
research shows that children do best with two equally involved parents).
Again, SB174 deletes "parental rights" and repeals "shared parenting" from the statutes; and it
also gives courts more discretion to apply their own personal biases and opinions about what is
best for a child.
~~~What is BEST for Ohio's children?
PLEASE ~ PLEASE ~ consider what's in the 'BEST INTEREST of OUR CHILDREN' when
considering how this Bill could and would NEGATIVELY affect the children of Ohio whose
parents are divorcing or who are already divorced!!!
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide OPPONENT testimony.
Jon S. Hepp Jr.
Family Rights Advocate
I have not had any contact with my children since their mother filed for divorce in 2012 (over 13
yrs ago). I spent over $100k just trying to get ‘standard visitation' with my children.
How is that possible you ask? Well, their mother has done everything she could possibly do to
keep our children from my family and me. My ex-wife:
• filed for our divorce in Lorain County - even though we lived in Cuyahoga
County, because she works for Children Services of Lorain County;
• she lied to (in) Court & manipulated the parties (GAL / Therapist) the Court
appointed to help with assessments that were Ordered by the Court;
• she enlisted the full power of the Silver Bullet Technique, which her Attorney
advised & helped her orchestrate;
• and, she ‘brainwashed’ our kids which has caused them to be ‘fearful’ of my
family and myself.
She did all of this so she could have the upper hand and WIN the divorce; not taking into
consideration ‘the Best Interest of Our Children’ or the long-term effects on Our Children.