The Ohio House approved two bills sponsored by state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles — one to increase penalties for human trafficking and kidnapping convictions and the other to update tax deductions for married couples contributing to certain accounts.

The House passed both bills 93-0 on Wednesday. They need to be approved by the state Senate before Gov. Mike DeWine can sign them into law.

One bill makes human trafficking, kidnapping and abduction convictions first-degree felonies rather than second-degree.

The bill, with state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, as the other lead sponsor, would increase the prison sentence for those convicted from its current 10 to 15 years to a minimum of 15 years.

The legislation also will provide protections for victims who are under the age of 18 or dev

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