Ohio lawmakers have introduced two legislation to strengthen the State Inspector General’s Office's investigative powers. House Bill 683, sponsored by Republican Reps. Mike Dovilla and Sen. Tom Patton, would allow state investigators to obtain search warrants for digital evidence directly from judges rather than relying on other law enforcement agencies. The bill is companion legislation to Senate Bill 350, which is pending in the Senate General Government Committee. Since 2021, investigations into fraudulent use of money provided through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program have resulted in millions of dollars being recovered.