Blogs

May 5, 2025 Legislative E-Update

By Craig Burford posted 05-05-2025 06:57 AM

  

The most recent OESCA Legislative e-Update is now available.

 

The May 5, 2025, Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders.  The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 135th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date.  There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes.  The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square.

  The downloadable versions are available at: https://www.oesca.org/viewdocument/legislative-eupdate-for-may-5-2025?CommunityKey=e25c3e7b-d192-458d-bbfc-018fe042b4c4&tab=librarydocuments.  

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Legislative Tracking Report: 136th General Assembly

HB96

OPERATING BUDGET (STEWART B) To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

 

Current Status:   

5/8/2025 - Senate Health, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/8/2025 - Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, (Third Hearing)
5/7/2025 - Senate Health, (Third Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

101.352 … 3301.01 … 3375.47, … 993.04

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-96

 

HB3

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY ACT (WILLIS B, THOMAS C) To address school bus safety, to designate this act as the School Bus Safety Act, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/30/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee

 

Recent Status:   

4/29/2025 - REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, House Transportation, (Fourth Hearing)
4/8/2025 - BILL AMENDED, House Transportation, (Third Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3327.18, 3327.19, 4503.03, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.76, 5.501

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-3

 

SB7

REGARDING INSTRUCTION-SUBSTANCE USE (JOHNSON T) Regarding instruction for public and chartered nonpublic school students in the harmful effects of substance use.

 

Current Status:   

4/30/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 33-0
4/9/2025 - Bills for Third Consideration

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.0722, 3301.0732, 3301.165, 3313.60, 3313.6024, 3313.6031, 3314.0311, 3326.092, 3328.60

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-7

 

SB174

REGARDING PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES-PARENTING PLANS (GAVARONE T, HICKS-HUDSON P) Regarding the allocation of parenting responsibilities in a parenting plan.

 

Current Status:   

4/30/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary
4/8/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

109.65, … 3310.51, 3313.205, 3313.64, 3313.666, 3313.672, 3313.712, 3313.96, 3313.98, 3319.321, 3321.01, 3323.143, 3328.01, 3332.25, 3333.26, 3345.85, … 5180.14

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-174

 

HB48

TAX CHANGES-529, ABLE CONTRIBUTIONS (MATHEWS A, SANTUCCI N) To modify the income tax deductions for contributions to 529 plans and ABLE accounts.

 

Current Status:   

4/30/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
3/19/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

5747.70, 5747.78

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-48

 

HB7

PFCC ELIGIBILITY-FOSTER, KINSHIP CARE (WHITE A, RAY S) To make foster caregivers and kinship caregivers eligible for publicly funded child care.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/11/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Second Hearing)
2/4/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

5104.30, 5104.302

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-7

 

HB41

ESTABLISH CHILD CARE GRANT PROGRAMS (WHITE A, ROEMER B) To establish certain child care grant programs, including those related to child care capacity and learning labs, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/18/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Second Hearing)
2/12/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-41

 

HB189

REGARDING SCHOOL BEHAVIORAL THREAT MANAGEMENT (HALL T, GHANBARI H) Regarding a statewide behavioral threat management operational process for public and chartered nonpublic schools.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/19/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.669, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24, 5502.264, 5502.99

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-189

 

HB153

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS-PARTY DESIGNATION (LEAR B, HALL T) To require state and school district board members to be nominated by primary election and to appear on the ballot with a party designation.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House General Government, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House General Government
3/6/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3311.053, 3501.01, 3505.03, 3505.04, 3513.04, 3513.05, 3513.052, 3513.19, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 3513.259

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-153

 

HB190

PUBLIC SCHOOLS-GENDER PRONOUN USE (NEWMAN J, WILLIAMS J) To enact the Given Name Act regarding the use of gender pronouns in public schools.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/24/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.473, 3313.475, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-190

 

HB57

OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUGS, SCHOOL POLICIES (JARRELLS D, WILLIAMS J) Regarding school policies on the administration of overdose reversal drugs.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - REPORTED OUT, House Education, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/8/2025 - House Education, (Third Hearing)
4/1/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.7118, 3313.7119, 3314.148, 3326.62, 3328.40

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-57

 

HB26

REQUIRE STATE, LOCAL IMMIGRATION COOPERATION (WILLIAMS J, FISCHER T) To require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws, to prescribe funding reductions for noncompliance, to name this act the Protecting Ohio Communities Act, and to declare an emergency.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Public Safety, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/5/2025 - Referred to Committee House Public Safety
1/28/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

4501.06, 5747.50, 5747.502, 5747.504, 5747.51, 5747.53, 9.63, 9.631, 9.632, 9.633

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-26

 

HB2

ESTABLISH CHILD CARE CRED PROGRAM (JOHNSON M) To establish the Child Care Cred Program and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/29/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/18/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (Second Hearing)
2/4/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

5180.41

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-2

 

HB80

INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION BUDGET (STEWART B) To make appropriations for the Industrial Commission for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of Commission programs.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/29/2025 - Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology, (First Hearing)
4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-80

 

SB158

PROHIBIT CELL PHONES-PUBLIC SCHOOLS (TIMKEN J) To generally prohibit student cellular telephone use in public schools.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - Senate Education, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/29/2025 - BILL AMENDED, Senate Education, (Second Hearing)
4/8/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.753

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-158

 

SB173

REGARDING SCHOOL DISTRICT TERRITORY ANNEXATIONS (SCHAFFER T, BRENNER A) Regarding school district territory annexations.

 

Current Status:   

4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education

 

Recent Status:   

4/8/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-173

 

SB163

VARIOUS REGULATIONS-ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (BLESSING III L, JOHNSON T) To require AI-generated products have a watermark, to prohibit simulated child pornography, and to prohibit identity fraud using a replica of a person.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)
4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

ORC Sections:   

1345.51, 1349.10, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2913.49

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-163

 

SB168

SCHOOL DISTRICT ACQUISITION-PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM FACILITIES (INGRAM C) Regarding school district acquisition of preschool classroom facilities.

 

Current Status:   

4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

4/2/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3318.72

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-168

 

HB32

MONTH DESIGNATION-CELEBRATING DISABILITIES (JARRELLS D, COCKLEY C) To designate the month of July as Celebrating Disabilities Month.

 

Current Status:   

4/9/2025 - House Health, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/2/2025 - House Health, (First Hearing)
2/5/2025 - Referred to Committee House Health

 

ORC Sections:   

5.2322

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-32

 

HB186

LIMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES (HOOPS J, THOMAS D) To authorize a reduction in school district property taxes affected by a millage floor that would limit increases in such taxes according to inflation and to require a corresponding adjustment in the school funding formula.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)
4/2/2025 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

319.301, 319.303, 323.08, 323.152, 323.155, 323.158, 3317.017, 3317.02, 3317.021, 3317.16, 4503.06, 4503.0610, 4503.065

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-186

 

HB225

EMPLOYMENT-PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (JARRELLS D, YOUNG T) To phase out the subminimum wage for individuals with physical or mental disabilities, to authorize a tax credit for purchases made from nonprofit corporations that hire such individuals, and to name this act the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - House Commerce and Labor, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee House Commerce and Labor
4/7/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3304.45, 4111.06, 4111.061, 4111.14, 5122.28, 5123.022, 5123.023, 5123.87, 5747.87, 5747.98, 5751.56, 5751.98

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-225

 

HB191

SET MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY (MILLER J, GRIM M) To require that all school district and educational service center teachers be paid a salary of at least $50,000.

 

Current Status:   

4/8/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/24/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3317.13, 3317.14, 4117.10, 5126.24, 5705.412

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-191

 

HB28

ELIMINATE REPLACEMENT PROPERTY TAX LEVY AUTHORITY (MATHEWS A, HALL T) To eliminate the authority to levy replacement property tax levies.

 

Current Status:   

4/8/2025 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
3/19/2025 - PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 62-30

 

ORC Sections:   

1545.21, 319.301, 319.302, 3316.041, 3316.06, 3358.11, 3505.06, 523.06, 5705.03, 5705.192, 5705.2111, 5705.218, 5705.221, 5705.233, 5705.261, 5705.412

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-28

 

SB34

ENACT HISTORICAL EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS ACT (JOHNSON T) To enact the Historical Educational Displays Act regarding the display of certain historical documents in public schools.

 

Current Status:   

4/8/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Education, (Fifth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/1/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Education, (Fourth Hearing)
3/11/2025 - Senate Education, (Third Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.802, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-34

 

HB205

REGARDING STUDENT TEACHERS' FINANCIAL SUPPORT (BRENNAN S, JONES D) To enact the Future Educators Support Act regarding financial support for student teachers, teaching as an in-demand job, and school district staffing surveys.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/31/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.24, 3301.82, 3319.70, 3345.83, 6301.113

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-205

 

HB154

SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVAL-CRA EXEMPTIONS (THOMAS D, GLASSBURN C) To require school district approval of residential community reinvestment area property tax exemptions.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - House Local Government, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/2/2025 - House Local Government, (First Hearing)
3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Local Government

 

ORC Sections:   

3735.67

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-154

 

HB203

INCREASED PENALTIES-SCHOOL ZONES (HALL T, WILLIAMS J) To increase penalties for vehicular assault and vehicular homicide that occur in an active school zone, to require doubled fines for specified traffic violations in an active school zone, and to name this act Aspen Runnels' Law.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - House Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee House Judiciary
3/26/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.081, 4510.039, 4511.01, 4511.132, 4511.20, 4511.202, 4511.204, 4511.205, 4511.21, 4511.25, 4511.251, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.46, 4511.54, 4511.60, 4511.711, 4511.712, 5501.27

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-203

 

HB165

REGARDING IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING-EDUCATORS (MILLER J, BREWER D) Regarding implicit bias training for licensed educators and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/1/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/12/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3314.03, 3319.2214, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-165

 

HB164

REINSTATE JOINT EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (ROBINSON P, MILLER J) To reinstate the Joint Education Oversight Committee and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

4/1/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/12/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

103.44, 103.45, 103.46, 103.47, 103.48, 103.49, 103.50

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-164

 

HB119

HIGH SCHOOL EXIT ORIENTATION CHANGES (WILLIAMS J, SANTUCCI N) To enact the Graduation Readiness and Development (GRAD) Act regarding exit orientation programs at public high schools and to designate September as "Workforce Development Month."

 

Current Status:   

4/1/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
2/24/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.475, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24, 5.2322

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-119

 

HB54

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET (STEWART B) To make appropriations for programs related to transportation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of those programs.

 

Current Status:   

3/31/2025 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 3/31/25

 

Recent Status:   

3/25/2025 - Sent to Governor for Signature
3/19/2025 - Consideration of Senate Amendments; House Does Concur, Vote 87-3

 

ORC Sections:   

101.27, 117.12, 117.56, 154.01, 1548.061, 1548.062, 2935.03, 306.30, 306.35, 306.43, 3503.11, 3704.14, 4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.103, 4503.183, 4503.21, 4503.211, 4505.072, 4505.08, 4506.01, 4506.072, 4506.09, 4506.11, 4507.01, 4507.021, 4507.061, 4507.063, 4507.13, 4507.21, 4507.511, 4507.52, 4508.02, 4511.01, 4511.031, 4511.09, 4511.091, 4511.092, 4511.093, 4511.094, 4511.11, 4511.13, 4511.131, 4511.132, 4511.15, 4511.18, 4511.204, 4511.21, 4511.211, 4511.214, 4511.351, 4511.432, 4511.46, 4511.48, 4511.491, 4511.512, 4511.61, 4511.62, 4511.64, 4511.65, 4511.68, 4511.701, 4511.712, 4511.76, 4511.765, 4513.071, 4513.38, 4513.41, 4517.02, 4517.24, 4519.401, 4923.12, 4955.50, 4955.51, 4955.52, 4955.53, 4955.55, 4955.57, 5501.041, 5501.20, 5501.41, 5501.421, 5501.441, 5501.60, 5512.07, 5513.01, 5515.01, 5515.02, 5515.10, 5515.99, 5517.012, 5517.02, 5517.021, 5517.08, 5521.01, 5525.03, 5525.04, 5525.08, 5525.14, 5525.16, 5537.02, 5571.01, 5747.502, 717.02

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-54

 

SB1

ADVANCE OHIO HIGHER EDUCATION ACT (CIRINO J) To enact the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education.

 

Current Status:   

3/28/2025 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 90 days

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Sent to Governor for Signature
3/26/2025 - Consideration of House Amendments; Senate Does Concur, Vote 20-11

 

ORC Sections:   

3333.045, 3335.02, 3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02, 3344.01, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218, 3345.0219, 3345.029, 3345.382, 3345.45, 3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454, 3345.455, 3345.456, 3345.591, 3345.80, 3345.88, 3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01, 3362.01, 3364.01, 4117.14, 4117.15

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-1

 

HB79

INCREASED PENALTY-ASSAULTING SPORTS OFFICIALS (ROEMER B, MILLER J) To increase the penalties for assault if the victim is acting as a sports official or the assault is committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official.

 

Current Status:   

3/26/2025 - House Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - House Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
3/5/2025 - House Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

2903.13, 2929.13

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-79

 

HB30

PHASE DOWN INCOME TAX-2.75% (MATHEWS A, LAMPTON B) To phase-down the state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75% over two years.

 

Current Status:   

3/26/2025 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/5/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means
2/3/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

5747.02

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-30

 

HB193

REGARDING OHIO ABLE ACCOUNTS (BARHORST T, LORENZ B) Regarding Ohio ABLE accounts and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Public Insurance and Pensions

 

Recent Status:   

3/24/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

113.51, 113.53, 113.56

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-193

 

HB187

REQUIRE SCHOOLS PROVIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE (CLICK G, SYNENBERG E) To require rather than permit school districts to provide a moment of silence each school day.

 

Current Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.601

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-187

 

HB127

WITHHOLDING SCHOOL DIRECTORIES-PUBLIC RECORDS (MATHEWS A, ODIOSO M) To permit schools to withhold directory information and to remove directory information from the public record definition.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/25/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

ORC Sections:   

149.381, 149.43, 3319.321

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-127

 

HB114

KINDERGARTEN ADMISSION AGE REQUIREMENTS (BIRD A, RITTER K) Regarding age requirements for kindergarten admission.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/25/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

ORC Sections:   

3314.06, 3314.08, 3317.0213, 3321.01

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-114

 

HB145

INCREASE MINIMUM SCHOOL HOURS (BIRD A) Regarding the minimum number of hours in a school year.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/25/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
3/5/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.0732, 3313.48

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-145

 

SB144

REGARDING EDUCATOR LICENSE GRADE BANDS (INGRAM C) Regarding educator license grade bands.

 

Current Status:   

3/25/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education
3/11/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3319.079, 3319.22

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-144

 

SB113

PROHIBIT DEI-PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BRENNER A) To prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools.

 

Current Status:   

3/25/2025 - Senate Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/4/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)
2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.475, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-113

 

SB19

REGARDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS-ACADEMIC INTERVENTION (BRENNER A) With regard to academic intervention services at public schools and the establishment of mathematics improvement and intervention plans.

 

Current Status:   

3/25/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Education, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/11/2025 - Senate Education, (Second Hearing)
1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.0714, 3301.079, 3302.03, 3302.131, 3302.132, 3313.6031, 3313.6032, 3313.6033, 3314.03, 3319.2214, 3326.11

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-19

 

SB141

AUTHORIZE TAX LEVIES-PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS (HICKS-HUDSON P) To authorize counties and other political subdivisions to place on the ballot tax levies supporting pre-kindergarten programs and to establish conditions on a county's use of moneys derived from the levied tax.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Local Government

 

Recent Status:   

3/11/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

307.852, 5705.19

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-141

 

HB179

STATEWIDE SCREENING-PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS (STEPHENS J) To create a statewide screening system for certain property tax reductions and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means

 

Recent Status:   

3/17/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

5703.21, 5703.83

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-179

 

HB172

REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT-MINORS' MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE (NEWMAN J) To prohibit the provision of mental health services to minors without parental consent.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Health

 

Recent Status:   

3/12/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

2151.461, 3129.03, 3313.473, 3798.07, 3798.12, 5122.04

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-172

 

HB150

SCHOOL REPORTING-YOUTH LABOR LAW VIOLATIONS (MCNALLY L, WHITE E) To enact the Clock Out Kids Act to require school employees to report certain minor labor law violations, to increase penalties for certain minor labor law violations, and to create the Minor Labor Law Enforcement Fund; and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Commerce and Labor

 

Recent Status:   

3/4/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-150

 

HB155

PROHIBIT DEI-PUBLIC SCHOOLS (LEAR B, WILLIAMS J) To prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
3/6/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.475, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-155

 

HB125

SCHOOL ABSENCES-4-H, FFA (HALL T, CREECH R) Regarding excused absences from school to participate in 4-H and FFA programs.

 

Current Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/11/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

ORC Sections:   

3321.043

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-125

 

HB117

SCHOOL REQUIREMENT-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (RICHARDSON T, BRENNAN S) To enact The Pledge of Allegiance Act to require the Pledge of Allegiance in schools.

 

Current Status:   

3/11/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
2/24/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.602, 3313.6031, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-117

 

SB35

SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING-ADULT GUARDIANSHIP (CIRINO J, REYNOLDS M) To establish supported decision making as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship for adults with developmental disabilities.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/5/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
2/19/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

5123.68, 5123.681, 5123.682, 5123.683, 5123.684, 5123.685, 5123.686

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-35

 

SB62

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY-PENALTIES, MONTH DESIGNATION (GAVARONE T) To authorize a civil penalty system related to drivers who illegally pass a school bus but cannot be identified, to designate the month of August as "School Bus Safety Awareness Month," and to designate this act as the School Bus Safety Act.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/5/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
2/19/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3327.18, 3327.19, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12, 4511.75, 4511.751, 4511.752, 4511.753, 4511.754, 4511.755, 4511.756, 4511.757, 4511.76, 5.501

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-62

 

SB66

SCHOOL DISTRICTS-MILLAGE CALCULATION (O'BRIEN S, LANG G) To include emergency levies, substitute levies, all inside millage, and school district income taxes in the calculation of a school district's effective millage floor.

 

Current Status:   

3/4/2025 - Senate Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/25/2025 - Senate Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)
2/18/2025 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

319.301

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-66

 

SB107

REQUIRE PARTY DESIGNATION-SCHOOL BOARDS BALLOTS (BRENNER A) To require state and school district board members to appear on the ballot with a party designation.

 

Current Status:   

2/26/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate General Government, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/19/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate General Government
2/18/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3501.01, 3505.03, 3505.04, 3513.254, 3513.255, 3513.256, 3513.259

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-107

 

HB106

SCHOOL SAFETY-PANIC ALERTS, FIREARM DETECTION (KING A, MILLER M) To enact Alyssa's Law to establish a pilot grant program for public and chartered nonpublic schools to purchase panic alert systems or contract for artificial intelligence firearm detection software and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Finance

 

Recent Status:   

2/18/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-106

 

SB68

ESTABLISH NONCHARTERED ED SAVINGS ACCT PROGRAM (ROMANCHUK M) To establish the Nonchartered Educational Savings Account Program and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/25/2025 - Senate Finance, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/18/2025 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)
2/12/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

ORC Sections:   

3310.21, 3310.22, 3310.23, 3310.24, 3310.25, 3310.26, 3317.02, 3317.022, 3317.03, 5747.75

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-68

 

SB109

PROVIDE BREAKFAST, LUNCH-SCHOOL STUDENTS (BLESSING III L, SMITH K) To provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to public and chartered nonpublic school students, and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/19/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

2/18/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.91, 3313.819

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-109

 

SB32

ESTABLISH CHILD CARE CRED PROGRAM (REYNOLDS M, SCHAFFER T) To establish the Child Care Cred Program and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/18/2025 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance
1/22/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

5180.41

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-32

 

SB44

ALLOW CONCURRENT SCHOLARSHIPS-EDCHOICE, SPECIAL NEEDS (O'BRIEN S) To permit students to concurrently receive an Educational Choice scholarship or Pilot Project scholarship and either an Autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarship and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

2/18/2025 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/12/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee
1/29/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

ORC Sections:   

3310.034, 3310.51, 3310.52

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-44

 

SB93

DECLARE INTENT-NEW SCHOOL FINANCING SYSTEM (BRENNER A) To declare the General Assembly's intent to establish a new school financing system that provides a statewide per-pupil funding payment to public and chartered nonpublic schools based on a single statewide property tax and increased state sales tax.

 

Current Status:   

2/12/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

2/10/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-93

 

SB49

ELIMINATE RIGHT OF REFUSAL-SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY (INGRAM C) To eliminate the right of first refusal for certain schools in the acquisition of school district real property.

 

Current Status:   

2/11/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education
1/28/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3313.41, 3313.411, 3313.412, 3313.413, 3318.08, 5705.10

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-49

 

SB48

AUDITING CHARTERED NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS (INGRAM C) Regarding the auditing of chartered nonpublic schools.

 

Current Status:   

2/11/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education
1/28/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

17.113

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-48

 

SB47

REQUIRE SCHOOL DISCLOSURE-FOR-PROFIT STATUS (INGRAM C) To require disclosure of the for-profit status of community school operators and post-secondary educational institutions on various promotional materials and contracts for employment.

 

Current Status:   

2/11/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education
1/28/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3314.033, 3332.031, 3333.046, 4709.05, 4713.07

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-47

 

SB13

ESTABLISH FOSTER TO COLLEGE PROGRAM (REYNOLDS M) To establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program, to require the Department of Education and Workforce to hire a full-time school foster care liaison, and to make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

 

Current Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

1/22/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3301.96, 3333.89

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-13

 

SB3

PHASE DOWN OHIO INCOME TAX (LANG G, HUFFMAN S) To phase-down the state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75% over two years.

 

Current Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means

 

Recent Status:   

1/29/2025 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
1/22/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

5747.02

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-3

 

SB12

COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHARITABLE FUNDS (WILSON S, CIRINO J) To permit community foundations to create component funds of any charitable funds received by public schools and to classify some funds held by a community foundation as institutional funds.

 

Current Status:   

1/29/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

1/22/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

1715.51, 3314.55, 3315.10, 3315.41, 3315.43, 3326.53

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-12

 

HB6

REGARDING STATE HIGHER EDUCATION OPERATIONS (YOUNG T) To enact the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education.

 

Current Status:   

1/28/2025 - Referred to Committee House Workforce and Higher Education

 

Recent Status:   

1/23/2025 - Introduced

 

ORC Sections:   

3333.045, 3335.02, 3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02, 3344.01, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218, 3345.0219, 3345.029, 3345.382, 3345.45, 3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454, 3345.455, 3345.456, 3345.591, 3345.80, 3345.88, 3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01, 3362.01, 3364.01, 4117.14, 4117.15

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-6

Latest News from Capital Square

FY26-27 BUDGET

The General Assembly would be required to "determine a manner of expanding gaming opportunities in Ohio" by Wednesday, Dec. 31, under language included in the House version of budget bill HB96 (Stewart). The state of Ohio currently allows a wide variety of gambling options, including casinos, video lottery terminals (VLTs) at racinos, traditional Ohio Lottery games, sports betting, fantasy sports contests and electronic bingo. However, there have been calls to further expand gambling in Ohio, such as allowing access to legal casino games and lottery tickets on the Internet.

A collection of school district superintendents urged lawmakers Friday to preserve their power to manage finances and facilities absent "arbitrary" rules like those pending in the most recent version of the state budget bill. The Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio convened dozens of superintendents for a virtual press conference to share their concerns about several elements of HB96 (Stewart), including the cap on carryover balances, mandates for when vacant or underenrolled buildings must be sold to other schools, and departure from implementation of the Cupp-Patterson formula.

Haslam Sports Group's (HSG) economic projections for the proposed domed Browns stadium and mixed-use development in Brook Park "may be overly optimistic," according to a new report from the Legislative Service Commission (LSC). LSC provided an analysis on Browns stadium funding provisions in the House-passed version of budget bill HB96 (Stewart) in response to a request from Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood). Antonio's office provided a copy of LSC's report Monday. "The proposed funding plan for the new Browns stadium raises serious legal and financial concerns," she said.

House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told reporters Wednesday that he hadn't reviewed the recent LSC report, though he was familiar with a news article on it. Huffman continued it was hard to respond to the report given that many reports are based on the questions which were asked and he didn't know what those were. He added that Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) did him the courtesy of not commenting on various issues while the House was reviewing the budget, so he would be doing the same in return. "We've got a couple months to figure out ... where this all lands, but I'm comfortable with the vote that we took in the House," he continued.

Ohio Elections Commission (OEC) Executive Director Philip Richter told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday that the lack of funding for OEC in the House-passed version of HB96 (Stewart) would create absolute chaos for the enforcement of Ohio's campaign finance laws. Rather than one statewide body to enforce the laws, Richter said enforcement would be in the hands of 88 separate county boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's office. According to Richter, that could lead to 89 separate applications of the law perhaps decided along party lines, rather than the current bipartisan make-up of the OEC. Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) asked about the additional burden that would be placed on local boards of elections if the changes in the House version of HB96 were implemented. Richter said OEC investigates 600-800 referrals from county boards each year, mostly complaints about absent or late campaign finance reports.

Provisions of the House-passed biennial budget HB96 (Stewart) pick up and expand from the transportation budget HB54 (Stewart) signed into law in late March, providing funding for programs and adding language that had been removed from the House-passed version of the transportation budget by the Senate. Among the biennial budget provisions is language re-entering Ohio into the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, which had been adopted in 2002 but repealed in 2013, and earmarks $25,000 in each fiscal year to pay for dues for the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. The House had added the language to the transportation budget, but it was removed by the Senate as part of the chamber's preference to not spend General Revenue Funds in the transportation budget.

Language in the House-passed version of budget bill HB96 (Stewart) gutting the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) would cause significant problems across the state -- particularly in rural areas -- members of the Home Matters to Ohio coalition said Thursday. "These funds flow to all 88 counties in Ohio, and are especially important in rural areas that don't receive federal funding directly for shelters or other types of housing development. The OHTF actually requires that 50 percent of these funds always be spent in these rural communities," Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) Executive Director Amy Riegel said during a Statehouse press conference. Currently, county recorders are required to send 50 percent of recording fees to the OHTF. Those fees and the investment earnings from those fees are the primary sources of revenue for the OHTF, according to an HB96 analysis by the Legislative Service Commission (LSC). Under the House budget, counties would retain all recording fees, and the portion formerly allocated to the OHTF would be used for housing-related purposes as determined by county commissioners.

The House-passed version of the budget includes several changes to the Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) program overseen by the Ohio Department of Development (DOD), as well as creation of a housing accelerator grant program. Under the House's changes, "qualified nonprofit developers" would be added as eligible applicants for grants to purchase or rehabilitate residential property in the WHO program. The WHO tax credit is also extended from the end of FY25 to the end of FY27, with the total amount of credits to be awarded over the biennium capped at $20 million. The credit amount would additionally be increased from one-third of construction and rehabilitation costs to 90 percent, according to the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) comparison document. The House's changes further raise the income eligibility threshold to purchase WHO-funded properties from 80 to 120 percent of the median income of the county in which the property is located, and increase the price they can be sold at from $180,000 to $220,000. The minimum square footage for WHO-funded units in a multi-unit property would decrease from 1,000 to 800.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara B. Wente Wednesday announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at improving birth outcomes and reducing infant mortality rates. Under the Partner for Change initiative, DCY is teaming up with several organizations across the state to take a highly effective model, pioneered by Hamilton County-based nonprofit Cradle Cincinnati, and expand it into new communities throughout Ohio. Cradle Cincinnati's model focuses on bringing parents, caregivers, health care professionals, and community members together to support moms and babies. DeWine's office said the model has played a pivotal role in reducing infant mortality rates in Hamilton County. In 2022, their infant mortality rate was 8.7 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Since then, this number has dropped to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births -- a decrease of well over 30 percent in a few years.

After more than two decades, the General Assembly is taking up watershed legislation to overhaul Ohio's domestic law on parenting, custody and best interest of the child based on the 2001 Ohio Task Force on Family Law and Children's final report and years of further reflection. Senate Majority Floor Leader Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), joint sponsors of SB174, said the long-awaited if unexpected bill would rewrite domestic law to replace shared parenting for divorced Ohioans with "co-parenting" -- the conviction that two parents with equal say constitute a child's best interest. "As the social landscapes of our state continue to change and family arrangements increasingly involve unmarried parents and other guardian relationships, my joint sponsor and I saw a dire need for the Ohio Revised Code to catch up to the times," Hicks-Hudson told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

EDUCATION

Three-plus years after the lawsuit on whether EdChoice scholarships are constitutional was filed, the parties were finally in the courtroom Monday to argue their positions before Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza Page. Page scheduled a multi-day hearing this week to consider the motions for summary judgment filed by parties, leading off Monday morning with opening presentations by attorneys for the plaintiff districts and their resident families; the state; and two groups of families who use the vouchers and are defending the program alongside the attorney general's office. After opening statements, Page said her plan was to move through all five counts of the complaint, with a chance for each party to speak for up to 30 minutes on each count. Represented by Maria Fair of the firm Weston Hurd, the plaintiffs argued that massive growth in EdChoice use is taking Ohio back to an early 19th century system of exclusive, homogenous schools that constitutional framers meant to end with the famous "thorough and efficient system of common schools" language that drove the DeRolph litigation.

Represented by former Sen. Mark Wagoner of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, the state said the lawsuit boils down to a policy disagreement that should be pursued at the Ohio Statehouse, and that its key questions were already asked and answered in favor of vouchers by supreme courts of Ohio and the United States more than two decades ago.

More than 45,000 Ohio families had at least $25 in state-created accounts that they could have put toward tutoring, summer camp or other educational activities when the federal government ordered a freeze of the funding. The Trump administration last month froze spending on programs using federal COVID relief funding. That freeze encompassed the Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) account program. Ohio lawmakers created the accounts to give families money for the likes of tutoring, museum admissions or other learning supplements amid the big disruptions to K-12 education from pandemic restrictions. Lawmakers originally provided $500 per child for families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, but later expanded that to $1,000 and 400 percent, respectively. Originally, authority to use the funding was to have expired last year, but the state requested and received an extension to use it through this summer.

Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) founder Williiam Lager wasted little time in filing his appeal of an asset freeze ordered against him as the state seeks to recoup money paid to his defunct online charter school, and he's asked the trial judge to stay her decision while the case continues. Judge Kimberly Cocroft of Franklin County Common Pleas Court recently adopted the recommendation of her magistrate and ruled that Lager's assets should be frozen.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) on Monday announced the new divisional breakdowns for the upcoming fall sports of golf, girls tennis, soccer and girls volleyball. Then later in the week the association said that the high school girls and boys basketball state tournaments will return to the traditional format of the final four in March 2026, with all state semifinalists converging in the same area in one weekend for the event. The University of Dayton (UD) Arena will continue to host all seven state championship games, along with several semifinal games. However, UD Arena cannot host all 21 games of the state tournament with the new seven-division format in basketball, OHSAA said.

ELECTIONS 2026

Alea Nadeem is the first Republican candidate to announce she will seek the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) in 2026. Kaptur's seat is considered one of the most competitive Democratic-held seats in the country after President Donald Trump has won the district multiple times. However, Kaptur has held off challengers in the past two elections, narrowly defeated state Rep. Derek Merrin last year. Nadeem, a U.S. Air Force veteran, told the Toledo Blade that she doesn't believe Northwest Ohio or blue-collar families are being represented in Washington, D.C. She told the newspaper she believes Trump has turned Republicans into the party for the working-class.

FEDERAL

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) Friday announced the openings of new offices in Northeast, Central, Southwest and Northwest Ohio.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) told reporters Wednesday she wasn't surprised by a recent Legislative Service Commission (LSC) report and Office of Budget and Management (OBM) memo on the Cleveland Browns' stadium proposal, saying they found "the estimates were likely generous and overestimates." "In the last two decades of public funding for stadium projects all across the country, this is pretty consistent. I don't know why we think Ohio is an exception, or the Browns' stadium is an exception to that," she continued. Russo also said that members of her caucus have "huge concerns," but added she believed Republicans in the House also have concerns and that speaks to the need to vet this proposal.

The House Local Government Committee heard testimony Wednesday from several supporters of HB113 (Bird-Newman), which would change the laws regarding annexation and require school district approval of residential community reinvestment area (CRA) property tax exemptions. Miami County Commissioner Wade Westfall said the current annexation process, particularly Type 2 and 3 expedited annexations, "cuts counties and townships out of the conversation."

In other action, the House Education Committee reported out HB57 (Jarrells-Williams) which addresses school policies on the administration of overdose reversal drugs; and the House Transportation Committee reported out HB3 (Willis-C. Thomas), the “School Bus Safety Act”.

HANNAH NEWS’ MEET THE FRESHMEN

While Rep. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) is a new legislator this session, she holds extensive experience around Capitol Square including work as a legislative staffer, former assistant director of government affairs at the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) and director of health care policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. She told Hannah News her acceptance into the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) Fellowship Program "kick-started" that career, and Craig went on to serve as a senior legislative aide to former House Speaker Pro Tem Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster). He'd known her parents through Sunday school, and Craig said Amstutz remains a mentor for her to this day. She also attended the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute in 2015.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The number of measles cases in Ohio has risen to 34, with outbreaks in Ashtabula and Knox counties, according to the latest data from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The ODH infectious disease dashboard says there are 16 cases in Ashtabula County, 14 cases in Knox County and one case each in Allen, Butler, Holmes and Montgomery counties. ODH announced the first measles case of 2025 in late March, which led to an outbreak in Ashtabula County.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Baldwin Wallace (BW) University recently started offering a new science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education certificate program, designed to foster creativity and engagement through hands-on, project-based learning in STEAM, according to the university. The program, funded primarily through the Choose Ohio First Grant awarded to BW by the state in December, is tuition-free for Ohio residents and consists of a three-course, credit-earning sequence. Each of the three courses will be presented in hybrid format; three in-person meetings are required per course with additional coursework completed online. Two cohorts are set to begin in June and October.

JUDICIAL

The law prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors will remain in effect following a decision from the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday. Justices granted Attorney General Dave Yost's emergency motion to stay a ruling from the 10th District Court of Appeals that would have blocked the state from enforcing minor gender-affirming care ban 135-HB68 (Click). The 10th District had ruled that the law was unconstitutional, saying it violated the Health Care Freedom Amendment and parents' rights to direct the health care of their children under the "due course of law" protections in the Ohio Constitution. That court sent the case back to the trial court with an order to impose a permanent injunction on the enforcement of the restrictions on puberty blockers and hormones but the court had not acted.

University of Akron tops February's bar exam with 35 successful candidates, followed in a distant second by Capital University's 17 passing scores and in third and fourth by Cleveland State University (14) and University of Toledo (12), respectively. The success rate was 43 percent for all test takers and 65 percent for first-timers. Pending bar members represent 35 Ohio counties led by Cuyahoga (23), Franklin (22), Summit (19), Hamilton and Lucas (9) and Stark (6).

PENSIONS

The chair of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) took the unusual step Wednesday of calling a brief press conference to announce the agenda for next week's meeting, which will include a subcommittee session focused on educator pension governance across the nation. Rep. Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati), who was recently elected to chair the council, said the council's subcommittee on the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) will hear presentations on how other states' teacher pension boards are constituted from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and RVK, the investment consulting firm that has generally advised the council on Ohio pension system performance in recent years.

POLLS

A new poll released by Bowling Green State University's (BGSU) Democracy and Public Policy Network Tuesday finds Vivek Ramaswamy holding a wide lead for the 2026 Republican nomination for governor, but all potential Republican candidates defeat potential Democratic candidates in hypothetical head-to-heads. The poll also found President Donald Trump's net approval has slipped among respondents as he hits his 100-day mark in office. The web-based poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.08 percent.

Ramaswamy is the top choice among 64 percent of those surveyed, followed by Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel with 14 percent, Attorney General Dave Yost at 13 percent, and Heather Hill at 4 percent. Though he has not declared an intention to run for governor in 2026, the poll included Tressel as a prospective candidate.

The poll also found Trump's net approval down 7 percentage points from a February BGSU poll, going from a plus 6 favorable rating (50 percent approval to 44 percent disapproval), to a -1 unfavorable (47 percent approval to 48 percent disapproval.) When asked to evaluate his first 100 days, 44 percent of respondents said it has been worse than expected, 32 percent better than expected, and 24 percent indicate it has been about what they expected. Forty-five percent of respondents say they are personally more anxious with Trump as president and 36 percent are less anxious. Nearly half of respondents (49 percent) believe the country is less respected with Trump as president, while 42 percent say the country is more respected.

STUDIES

Ohio EdChoice students tracked by Urban Institute and higher education researchers were more likely to attend and graduate from college than their public district school peers. Matthew Chingos of the Urban Institute, David Figlio of the University of Rochester and Kryzsztof Karbownik of Emory University tracked the college enrollment and degree attainment of more than 6,000 students who used EdChoice scholarships from 2008 to 2014 and compared them to the outcomes of more than half a million students with similar demographic and achievement characteristics who attended public district schools. The results: 48 percent of the EdChoice cohort enrolled in college, compared to 32 percent of public school students, and 24 percent graduated. About 1,400 of the studied EdChoice students are old enough to have completed a four-year program. Of those, 23 percent attained a bachelor's degree, compared to 15 percent of district students.

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

Ohio's unemployment trust fund is likely to become insolvent within several years even without any recessions in the meantime, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder told a House committee Wednesday. If unemployment rates stay relatively steady, the trust fund, now sitting at $1.7 billion, is projected to become insolvent by 2032, Damschroder said in testimony to the House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee. A recession would speed that timetable up considerably, he said. A negative trust fund balance would trigger federal borrowing and higher federal unemployment taxes if the loan is not paid back, he said. In comparison to the current $1.7 billion balance, state law sets a minimum safe level (MSL) of $4.4 billion as the balance needed to endure a moderate recession, while the federal government uses a measurement called average high cost multiple (AHCM) that calls for a $4.1 billion fund, he said. The state has an MSL tax that is triggered when the fund balance is too low, he said; it is currently set at the maximum possible rate.

actionTRACK - Hannah News Service, Inc.

 This Legislative e-Update is a service of OESCA and is intended to provide updated information on the legislative issues of interest to Ohio's ESCs, OESCA members & interested parties and is made available by Hannah News Services.

 https://www.oesca.org/viewdocument/legislative-eupdate-for-may-5-2025?CommunityKey=e25c3e7b-d192-458d-bbfc-018fe042b4c4&tab=librarydocuments.

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