Innovation Ohio

What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy

Ohio Lame Duck 2022

This week, the Ohio legislature begins its Lame Duck session.

In Ohio, Lame Duck occurs every two years between Election Day and December 31st, before the newly elected legislators are sworn in.

Any bill that hasn’t yet passed must be signed into law by the end of the year. Otherwise, the bill dies and must be reintroduced next term.

Ohio’s Republican Statehouse supermajority often tries to quietly pass their most controversial bills during Lame Duck.

Throughout this chaotic period, we’ll be tracking some of the most important legislation and sending out regular calls to action.

Make sure you’re following Innovation Ohio on social media as well:

We’ll need your help to fight for and against life-altering bills over the next several weeks.

Your calls, emails, tweets, and testimony matter. Your voice matters.

Desiree Tims Comments on Rittenhouse Verdict

Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement after Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all counts related to three shootings and two deaths in Kenosha, WI:

“We are devastated by today’s decision, but not shocked. As the trial progressed, millions of Americans watched a biased judge and a broken system at work.

“As we try to wrap our minds around another murderer acquitted, we must turn our anger into action — working to elect judges and state legislators who will pass and enforce laws that treat all humans with respect.

“Today I’m thinking of the families who will lose sleep and maybe even hope due to this injustice within our legal system.

“But we cannot let this decision dictate our future. We will all pray with our feet until we can taste the justice our hearts desire.”

Innovation Ohio Endorses Bills to Reform Ohio’s Cruel Cash Bail System

COLUMBUS — Today, Innovation Ohio (IO), Ohio’s progressive politics and policy hub, announced their official endorsement of two bipartisan bills to reform Ohio’s cash bail system: HB 315 and SB 182.

“Every day, thousands of Ohioans who have not been convicted of a crime sit in jail, simply because they can’t afford bail. They can’t work, pay bills, or take care of their kids. At the same time, rich Ohioans accused of the same crime get to pay to go home. These bills give us a real chance to finally fix Ohio’s cruel, racist, classist cash bail system,” said Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio.

Ohio’s current cash bail system too often has devastating, long-term impacts on Ohioans’ lives. In addition to the potential loss of their job, home, and children, studies show that individuals who cannot afford cash bail receive harsher punishments than those who can pay to go home. Bail reform will help ensure no one is treated differently under the law simply because of their financial status.

Bail reform not only saves lives, it saves money. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio performed a fiscal analysis and found that these bills would save Ohio $199 and $264 million every single year.

Bail reform would help address racial disparities in Ohio’s court system. Studies show that Black Ohioans spend far more time in jail pre-trial (before being convicted of any crime) than white Ohioans.

Bail reform is also incredibly popular. An astounding 77% of Ohioans believe individuals should receive a hearing in front of a judge to determine release options within 48 hours of arrest/detention.

Innovation Ohio encourages all Ohioans to testify (or submit written-only testimony) in support of these bills. The first opportunity to testify will be this Wednesday, June 16th, at 3:00 pm.

IO has created a how-to guide for submitting bail reform testimony to help make the process simple and accessible for the public.

Stay informed about key issues and bills.

Sign Up

We monitor Ohio politicians to help you hold them accountable.