Blogs

Legislative e-Update for June 23, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 06-23-2025 06:11 AM

  

It is expected to be a big week in the Ohio General Assembly with Conference Committee on Am. Sub. H.B. 96 expected to report out the FY 2026-2027 biennial state operating budget. More information will be provided as the details become available.

But there are a number of other important bills currently being debated by the legislature.  And this weekly e-Update is designed to give members an ongoing update on what is happening on Capital Square.

This June 23, 2025Legislative 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 state budget and other pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136th 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 from last week.

 

The downloadable versions for OESCA members are available at: https://www.oesca.org/viewdocument/legislative-e-update-for-june-23-2?CommunityKey=e25c3e7b-d192-458d-bbfc-018fe042b4c4&tab=librarydocumentsThe update is provided in MS Word format so you can co-brand with OESCA; add your own logos and customize as needed for your respective organizations and client districts.  

 

Again, you can access at https://www.oesca.org/viewdocument/legislative-e-update-for-june-23-2?CommunityKey=e25c3e7b-d192-458d-bbfc-018fe042b4c4&tab=librarydocuments.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of OESCA and Ohio’s network of ESCs.

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Legislative Tracking Report: 136th General Assembly

HB335

LAW CHANGES-COUNTY FUNDING (THOMAS D) To modify the law governing property taxation, county budget commissions, county sales taxation, and alternative apportionment formulas for local government and public library funds.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/11/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means
6/11/2025 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-335

 

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:   

6/18/2025 - BILL AMENDED, Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/7/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
4/9/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB359

CLARIFY STATEWIDE ALERTS-CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (THOMAS C, GROSS J) To clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - Referred to Committee House Children and Human Services

 

Recent Status:   

6/12/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-359

 

HB371

MANDATORY REPORTING-ELECTED OFFICIALS (PLUMMER P, YOUNG T) To make elected officials mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - Introduced

 

Recent Status:   

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-371

 

HB369

K-3 DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT CHANGES (FOWLER S, LEAR B) To change diagnostic assessments for grades kindergarten through two to end-of-year nationally norm-referenced diagnostic assessments and for the third grade to beginning-of-year nationally norm-referenced diagnostic assessments.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - Introduced

 

Recent Status:   

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-369

 

HB355

INCREASE TAX APPROVAL THRESHOLD (KING A, THOMAS D) To increase the approval threshold required for passage of local taxes subject to voter approval.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - Referred to Committee House General Government

 

Recent Status:   

6/11/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-355

 

HB365

PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS (BRENNAN S, HALL D) To authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceed five per cent of their income and to name this act the Property Tax Refund Act.

 

Current Status:   

6/18/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means

 

Recent Status:   

6/17/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-365

 

HB114

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

 

Current Status:   

6/17/2025 - Senate Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/10/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)
5/28/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

6/17/2025 - Senate Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/10/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)
6/4/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Education

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB57

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

 

Current Status:   

6/24/2025 - Senate Education, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/17/2025 - Senate Education, (Second Hearing)
6/10/2025 - Senate Education, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB283

CYBERSECURITY REQUIREMENT-POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (MATHEWS A, GHANBARI H) To require political subdivisions to adopt a cybersecurity program.

 

Current Status:   

6/17/2025 - House Technology and Innovation, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/3/2025 - House Technology and Innovation, (First Hearing)
5/21/2025 - Referred to Committee House Technology and Innovation

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-283

 

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:   

6/17/2025 - REPORTED OUT, Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/27/2025 - Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology, (Third Hearing)
5/6/2025 - Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology, (Second Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

6/17/2025 - , (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/12/2025 - Senate Appoints Managers; Senate Insists on its Amendments - J. Cirino, B. Chavez & P. Hicks-Hudson Named as Senate Conferees
6/12/2025 - House Appoints Managers; B. Stewart, M. Dovilla & B. Sweeney Named as House Conferees

 

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:   

6/11/2025 - PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 90-0

 

Recent Status:   

6/11/2025 - Bills for Third Consideration
5/27/2025 - REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, House Finance, (Second Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB309

LAW CHANGES-COUNTY FUNDING (THOMAS D) To modify the law governing county budget commissions, property taxation, and alternative apportionment formulas for local government and public library funds.

 

Current Status:   

6/11/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/4/2025 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
5/28/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-309

 

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:   

6/11/2025 - Senate Local Government, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Local Government
3/11/2025 - Introduced

 

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:   

6/11/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/28/2025 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

6/11/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means

 

Recent Status:   

6/4/2025 - PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 93-0
6/4/2025 - Bills for Third Consideration

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB327

PARENTS' RIGHTS-CHILD HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION (BROWNLEE K, BREWER D) To protect parents' rights to equitable access to medical care, behavioral health care, hygiene care, and educational opportunities for their children and to name this act the Parents' Rights to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (P.R.I.D.E.) Act.

 

Current Status:   

6/11/2025 - Referred to Committee House Children and Human Services

 

Recent Status:   

6/3/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-327

 

HB304

P.E. REQUIREMENTS-CLUB SPORTS (YOUNG T, MILLER M) To permit students to use club sports or other athletic activity to fulfill the high school physical education requirement and to require recess time for K-8 students.

 

Current Status:   

6/10/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/28/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
5/27/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-304

 

HB322

PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST REQUIREMENT (LORENZ B, ROGERS E) To require schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test and to name this act the Ohio Fitness Test Act.

 

Current Status:   

6/10/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

6/4/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
6/3/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-322

 

HB314

RESTRICT DISRUPTIVE RECORD REQUESTS (ISAACSOHN D, RAY S) To restrict harassing or disruptive public records requests and permit private contractors to respond to voluminous public records requests.

 

Current Status:   

6/4/2025 - Referred to Committee House Judiciary

 

Recent Status:   

6/3/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-314

 

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:   

6/4/2025 - House Judiciary, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/14/2025 - House Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
5/7/2025 - House Judiciary, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

6/4/2025 - BILL AMENDED, House Ways and Means, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/7/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
4/9/2025 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB269

REGARDING SUCCESS SEQUENCE, CHARACTER EDUCATION (RITTER K, NEWMAN J) Regarding success sequence and character education curriculum.

 

Current Status:   

6/3/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/14/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
5/13/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-269

 

HB294

REGARDING INTRADISTRICT OPEN ENROLLMENT (MATHEWS T, RITTER K) Regarding school district intradistrict open enrollment policies.

 

Current Status:   

6/3/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/21/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
5/20/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-294

 

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:   

6/3/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/13/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

6/3/2025 - House Education, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/20/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)
3/11/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB298

LEGALIZE, REGULATE INTERNET GAMBLING (STEWART B, JOHN M) To legalize and regulate internet gambling in this state, to levy a tax on businesses that provide internet gambling, and to prohibit online sweepstakes games.

 

Current Status:   

6/3/2025 - House Finance, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/27/2025 - House Finance, (Second Hearing)
5/21/2025 - Referred to Committee House Finance

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-298

 

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:   

6/3/2025 - House Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/21/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee
5/14/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

SB158

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

 

Current Status:   

6/3/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/21/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education
5/14/2025 - PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 30-2

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

SB206

PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION-OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES (CUTRONA A) To authorize a property tax reduction for certain owner occupied homes.

 

Current Status:   

5/28/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means

 

Recent Status:   

5/20/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-206

 

HB2

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

 

Current Status:   

5/27/2025 - House Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/21/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee
5/14/2025 - Re-Referred to Committee

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

5/27/2025 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

5/21/2025 - House Commerce and Labor, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/14/2025 - House Commerce and Labor, (Second Hearing)
5/7/2025 - House Commerce and Labor, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB286

LIMIT USE-INTERNET GAMING TAX REVENUE (SWEENEY B, ISAACSOHN D) To restrict the purposes for which the tax revenue from any legal internet gaming in this state may be used.

 

Current Status:   

5/21/2025 - Referred to Committee House Finance

 

Recent Status:   

5/20/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-286

 

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:   

5/21/2025 - House Health, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB32

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

 

Current Status:   

5/21/2025 - REPORTED OUT, House Health, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/9/2025 - House Health, (Second Hearing)
4/2/2025 - House Health, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB145

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

 

Current Status:   

5/20/2025 - House Education, (Fourth Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/13/2025 - House Education, (Third Hearing)
5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB264

LIMIT GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS-ELECTIONS (FISCHER T, MATHEWS A) To prohibit certain government publications concerning candidates or ballot issues during the 30 days before an election.

 

Current Status:   

5/20/2025 - House General Government, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/14/2025 - Referred to Committee House General Government
5/13/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-264

 

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:   

5/20/2025 - BILL AMENDED, House Finance, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

2/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Finance
2/18/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB155

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

 

Current Status:   

5/20/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)
3/19/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

HB193

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

 

Current Status:   

5/14/2025 - House Public Insurance and Pensions, (First Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

3/26/2025 - Referred to Committee House Public Insurance and Pensions
3/24/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

SB174

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

 

Current Status:   

5/14/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (Second Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

4/30/2025 - Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)
4/9/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Judiciary

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

SB191

REGARDING CHARTERED NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS (HUFFMAN S) Regarding disadvantaged pupil impact aid for scholarship students attending chartered nonpublic schools and to make an appropriation.

 

Current Status:   

5/14/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

5/7/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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:   

5/13/2025 - House Education, (Third Hearing)

 

Recent Status:   

5/6/2025 - House Education, (Second Hearing)
3/11/2025 - House Education, (First Hearing)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

SB190

A GOOD DEAL FOR OHIO ACT (BLESSING III L) To modify the law governing property, income, sales and use, severance, and lodging taxes; to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to public and chartered nonpublic school students; to increase the Local Government Fund; to modify funding for the Low- and Moderate-income Housing Trust Fund; and to name this act A Good Deal for Ohio.

 

Current Status:   

5/7/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Finance

 

Recent Status:   

5/6/2025 - Introduced

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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)

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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

 

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. 6/27/25

 

Recent Status:   

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

 

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)

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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)

 

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 be nominated by primary election and 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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

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

 

State Bill Page:   

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

 

Latest News from Capital Square

ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Ohio is poised to receive an estimated $198 million from Purdue Pharma and former owners as part of a $7.4 billion OxyContin settlement with 49 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia -- the largest agreement under nationwide opioid litigation. Purdue manufactured and "aggressively marketed" opioids for decades as part of the largest drug crisis in American history, the Ohio Attorney General's Office says. The Sackler family has ceded control of the company and is permanently barred from selling opioids in the U.S.

FY26-27 PROPOSED BUDGET

Executive and legislative budget forecasters went in opposite directions and met in the middle Tuesday when they updated their expectations for tax revenues in the coming biennium. Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Kim Murnieks and Legislative Service Commission (LSC) Director Wendy Zhan testified to the Conference Committee on HB96 (Stewart) at its first meeting, during which conferees agreed to work off the Senate version and adhere to traditional rules requiring a majority of both House and Senate conferees to approve a conference report. Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), chair of the conference committee and House Finance Committee as well as the bill sponsor, said with House plans for a budget floor vote on Wednesday, June 25, he's expecting a vote in conference committee the preceding Monday or Tuesday. He expressed no worry about finding the votes if needed to waive a waiting period spelled out in House rules for conference committee reports that include appropriations. OBM cut its outlook for both FY26 and FY27. Its overall revenue forecast marked a slight increase of $35 million from the executive version, but that's only because FY25 is expected to end with $281 million more than expected, offsetting drops in expected revenues of $20 million in FY26 and $226 million in FY27. LSC boosted its forecast by $93.6 million in FY26 and $180.5 million in FY27. LSC also expects improved revenue collections for FY25, increasing its forecast by $294.2 million. Ultimately, changes in the OBM and LSC forecasts brought the two agencies closer together. Both project around $29.6 billion for FY26, while the FY27 forecasts aren't far apart -- $30.3 billion for OBM and $30.4 billion for LSC.

EDUCATION

The Ohio STEM Learning Network recently identified the four winners of the "STEM Excellence Awards." These awards recognize outstanding teachers, school leaders, and education advocates who advance quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in Ohio.

ELECTIONS 2026

Blue Ash Mayor Jill Cole has announced that she is running for state representative in Ohio's 28th House District which is currently held by freshman legislator Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Cincinnati). A Republican, Cole launched her campaign pledging to bring practical, transparent leadership to Columbus and put the needs of families and neighborhoods first.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

- The 314 Action Fund endorsed Dr. Amy Acton for governor.

- Ohio Value Voters announced their endorsement of Jon Husted for the U.S. Senate.

FEDERAL

A new Quinnipiac University Poll released this week finds a majority of respondents opposed to the federal Republican tax and spending bill dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The poll was conducted among 1,265 self-identified registered voters nationwide from Thursday, June 5, through Monday, June 9. Among respondents, 53 percent oppose the federal bill, while 27 percent support it and 20 percent do not have an opinion.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House Republicans seated Noble County Commissioner Ty Moore of Caldwell as the new District 95 representative at Wednesday’s session, after a screening panel announced him as the caucus’ choice to succeed former Rep. Don Jones (F-Freeport), who left to lead the Ohio Farm Service Agency.

Aside from passage of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) budget, HB81 (Stewart), Wednesday’s Senate session included passage of SB172 (Roegner), regarding immigration enforcement; SB4 (Gavarone), regarding election integrity; road naming bills HB50 (King), SB52 (Schaffer) and SB119 (Brenner); HB64 (D. Thomas-Deeter), regarding senior discounts for hunting and fishing licenses; HB65 (Klopfenstein-Peterson), regarding day and week designations related to agriculture; and SB85 (Smith-Craig), creating the Ohio NAACP license plate; and concurrence with House amendments to SB147 (Reineke), regarding waste disposal.

Aside from concurrence with Senate changes to the BWC budget, Wednesday’s House session included passage of HB247 (K. Miller-Lawson-Rowe), regarding dangerous dogs; HB20 (Hall-Plummer), to increase penalties for obstructing official business of emergency responders; HB23 (Roemer-Williams), to create an escape convict alert program; HB52 (Deeter), regarding the practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists; HB116 (Demetriou), regarding blockchain and cryptocurrency; HB122 (Lampton-T. Hall), regarding tax credits related to organ donation; HB141 (Baker-Abrams), regarding pediatric extended care centers; HB168 (Williams-Brennan), regarding child enticement crimes; HB207 (Lorenz-Rogers), designating June as “Male Wellness Month” and the third Monday in June as “Take Your Dad to the Doctor and Dentist Day”; HR147 (Robb Blasdel), urging Congress to investigate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency response to the East Palestine derailment; HCR13 (Hoops-Robinson), urging Congress to designate the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail; SB114 (Patton), prohibiting law enforcement quotas for arrests and citations; and SB138 (Johonson), regarding mental health and substance abuse treatment.

In other legislative action, House Small Business Committee reported out HB288 (Roemer-Sweeney), regarding timely payment to contractors for private construction projects; House Transportation Committee reported out road naming bills HB316 (LaRe), HB325 (Holmes-Ritter) and SB95 (Reynolds-Craig); Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee reported out HB80 (Stewart), the Ohio Industrial Commission budget; Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee reported out SCR10 (Lang-Craig), encouraging support for the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial; Senate Transportation Committee reported out SB212 (Timken), to create the “Play Golf Ohio” license plate; and SB182 (Patton), a road naming bill.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Tennessee's law banning gender-affirming care for minors does not violate the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision on Wednesday.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order this week to allow the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to temporarily adopt emergency rules related to the hospital assessment that provides money for federal Medicaid matching funds. The order states that ODM must prepare for implementation of the state budget in the new biennium by immediately changing rules to set assessments amounts for FY26 to "codify existing practice that assessments and other related hospital provider taxes will not exceed the indirect hold harmless guarantees prescribed by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Social Security Act ...."

POLITICS

In recent decades, the divide between economic winners and losers in America has been deepening, Harvard professor of government and philosophy Michael Sandel told the City Club of Cleveland on Tuesday. While that divide starts with the growing divide among the population in income and wealth, it also manifests in changing attitudes toward success that accompany inequality. Sandel has recounted America's civic struggles between the 1990s and today in his book, Democracy's Discontent: A New Edition for Our Perilous Times, which follows his 1998 book, Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy.

TAXATION

Proposed current agricultural use value (CAUV) calculations would result in an average farmland value of $1,448 per acre for tax year 2025, a reduction from $1,616 in 2024, according to Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) figures presented during a virtual public hearing Tuesday. Joshua Roloson from ODT's Department of Tax Equalization provided an overview of how the CAUV formula works and how the trends in crop prices, production costs, interest rates and other factors influenced proposed 2025 CAUV values.

The enactment of property tax reform bill HB335 (D. Thomas) could result in 20,000 teachers leaving the state, Ohio Education Association (OEA) President Scott DiMauro said Tuesday. "HB335 would be absolutely devastating for Ohio's public schools," DiMauro said during a Statehouse press conference hosted by House Democrats. Among other provisions, HB335 would prohibit all political subdivisions except townships from levying inside millage.

Attorneys with expertise in tax law and bond issuance Wednesday flagged constitutional issues and litigation risks associated with the broad House property tax proposal to largely eliminate inside millage. Meanwhile, Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) indicated that the core feature of the bill is unlikely to be included in the final budget. Taft-era Tax Commissioner Tom Zaino, representing the Ohio Taxpayer Protection Coalition, spoke about HB335 (D. Thomas) to the House Ways and Means Committee, which also received a memo from five prominent law firms that act as bond counsel for local taxing authorities. The bulk of testimony Wednesday was taken in writing and constituted dozens of opponents representing local schools and governments. Some opponents did get a chance to speak before the committee broke for the day's House session.

House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) discussed HB335 (D. Thomas) with reporters after the House Rules and Reference Committee meeting Wednesday, saying the property tax bill is "part of a menu of things that are being considered by the House and Senate" but that the Legislature needs "to do something in this budget about real estate taxes" as standalone legislation would likely not pass both chambers. Huffman additionally described HB335 as "probably the most draconian of all of those [options]" and said that it could adversely affect people who are "fairly conservative in how they spend money." It is at "one end of the spectrum," he continued, and some form of action will be taken.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and House Finance Committee Ranking Member Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) criticized property tax provisions in HB335 (D. Thomas) during remarks to reporters after the House Rules and Reference Committee meeting Wednesday, with Russo saying her caucus opposes the bill. She pointed to House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) describing it as "draconian" and noted there has been opposition from schools and public safety groups.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn announced this week funding for two dozen projects around Ohio to improve transportation infrastructure for students who walk or bike to school. A total of 24 projects in 12 counties statewide received a total of $7.6 million through ODOT's Routes to School Program, which provides resources, technical assistance and project funding to encourage and enable students in grades K-12 to walk or ride their bikes to school.

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.

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