Ohio House Bill 840 was introduced, which would update current legislation to classify rideshare drivers as employees while engaged in service and dispatch under a hybrid model, entitling them to certain employee benefits, such as minimum wages and workers’ comp insurance.

On the last day of January, April, July, and October of each year, rideshare companies would be required to submit a true and accurate report of the hours for which drivers were engaged in passenger platform time and dispatch platform time. This data would be used to determine the quarterly premiums that rideshare companies must pay into the workers’ comp system.

Additionally, the bill creates state-mandated minimum compensation structures that would go into effect January 1, 2027. In large cities with a population over 600,000, drivers must be paid a minimum of $0.59 per minute and $1.38 per mile, or a minimum of $5.17 per trip. For all other areas, the minimum is $0.34 per minute and $1.17 per mile, or $3.00 minimum per trip.

Tips must also be paid in full to drivers and cannot count towards minimum pay. Tolls and fees would also be excluded from compensation calculations, and rates of pay would be adjusted annually for inflation. Furthermore, the bill could create labor protections for rideshare drivers.