New on the UC Law Review Blog, Brookelynn Stone discusses how the “American Dream” of homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many Americans as housing costs surge nationwide. She examines how Idaho’s recent legislation seeks to restore affordability and whether state intervention is necessary when local zoning boards fail to act.
Katie Bunch examines the legal regulation of short-term rental platforms under municipal zoning law, analyzing how traditional land use classifications, varying ordinance language, and differing judicial interpretations influence the treatment of Airbnb and Vrbo properties. She evaluates how clearer statutory definitions and balancing approaches could reduce ambiguity and improve consistency in zoning enforcement.
Joanna Swaiss discusses how Ohio’s biological evidence retention statute lacks a remedy for criminal defendants when governmental entities violate it. She argues that this lack of remedy severely disadvantages wrongfully convicted individuals who stand to benefit from evidence preservation, and she proposes an avenue for post-conviction relief in cases of intentional evidence destruction.
Andrew Pyles discusses the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, which forbids local governments from requiring parking around transit stations, focusing on whether states should preempt local land-use laws through sweeping legislation.
Katie Bunch examines how wearable healthcare devices collect sensitive health data that often falls outside of HIPAA protections. She explores potential gaps in federal and state privacy laws and argues for stronger consent requirements, expanded HIPAA coverage, and more uniform protections to ensure consumers’ health information is safeguarded as technology continues to advance.
Maggie Traubert explores how recent state efforts to expand youth employment create conflicts with federal child labor laws, leaving businesses uncertain of the law and young workers potentially at risk of abuse. The article examines how state child labor statutes disrupt the cooperative federalism model, function as “zombie laws,” exploit enforcement gaps, and impose asymmetric legal burdens on businesses.
Brookelynn Stone discusses the current PFAS regulatory landscape and the harmful effects these forever chemicals have on communities throughout the United States. She contends that the current EPA’s actions regarding delaying compliance timelines and weakening reporting requirements for importers and manufacturers undermines public health. She discusses the need for a more coordinated and stable approach to address PFAS as the current patchwork of state level regulations and a fragmented federal approach is insufficient to address issues concerning public health.
In this article, Stella Brocker explores a currently blocked Ohio law that would impose age-based restrictions on social media usage, causing such use by minors to be subject to parental consent. She analyzes the constitutional issues implicated by such legislation and considers alternative regulatory strategies for lawmakers that may be better suited to address the harms associated with youth social media use and access.
Devin Scarborough explores the apparent surge in politically motivated violence and examines the recently introduced Ohio House Bill 457 in combatting this violence. She argues that HB 457 inadequately addresses political violence, fails to deter future crime, and utilizes vague and underinclusive language. Ultimately, although she agrees that political violence must be addressed, she argues that legislators should pursue more effective methods in the fight against political violence and calls for HB 457 to be amended.
Brooke Karsteter examines the dangers posed by obsolete laws and constitutional provisions that remain on the books, arguing that these “zombie laws” threaten the integrity of constitutional interpretation and the rule of law itself.
