Liv’s Law, part of House Bill 37, officially goes into effect Wednesday across Ohio. The legislation raises the penalties for repeat OVI offenders who cause deadly crashes, and for families like the Studers in Hubbard, it represents a long-awaited step toward justice.

The law is named after Olivia “Liv” Wright, a teenager who was killed by a repeat drunk driver. Under the new statute, anyone convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence—and with prior OVI convictions—can now face significantly longer mandatory prison terms.

“Well, obviously, and this increases the penalties substantially,” said attorney Dave Betras. “So now a first-time OVI vehicular homicide... it’s a felony two, which carries two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight years in prison.”

The law introduces tiered sentencing. For example, a person with three or more prior OVIs within 20 years who causes a deadly crash could face 12 to 20 years in prison. It also allows law enforcement to collect oral fluid samples at the scene, adding a new tool for detecting impairment beyond breathalyzers.

“Don’t drink and drive for sure,” Betras added. “With Lyft and Ubers and everything else, there’s no excuse anymore. It is just too costly to get a DUI.”

For Sarah Studer, the new law is deeply personal. Her sister, Kyrsten, was just 14 years old when she was hit and killed by a drunk driver in 2004. The driver, William Demidovich, was sentenced to prison and ordered never to drive again—but years later, the Studer family learned he had obtained a valid license.

“He should have never been able to get a license again,” Sarah said. “But for some reason, because the different departments such as insurance and BMV and courts, there wasn't a steady stream of communication, so he was able to get a license again.”

Sarah says that while Liv’s Law is a necessary step, more still needs to be done to prevent breakdowns in communication between agencies.

“I think that it brings a sense of justice… and I hope that it can prevent future tragedies and protect our communities from like the devastating impact of drunk driving,” she said.

The new law aims to close longstanding gaps in Ohio’s legal system and serve as a stronger deterrent against repeat drunk driving offenses.