Innovation Ohio

What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy

Why I’m Saying “NO” to SB83

By Lily Fergeson, Innovation Ohio Fellow

I recently graduated from The Ohio State University, attracted by their Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program and the Morrill Scholarship program. When deciding where to go to college, I researched several options based on location, major availability, campus atmosphere, student organizations, and more.

Out of the 16 colleges I applied, 15 had some form of women’s, gender, or sexuality studies programs. However, Ohio Senate Bill 83 and House Bill 151, also known as the “Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act,” seek to limit public colleges and universities in Ohio in many ways, including preventing faculty, staff, or students from being treated differently based on group identities such as race, gender, or sexuality. While this may seem like a positive step, the vague language could be used to eliminate programs like Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, scholarships based on identity, and student organizations focused on identity.

These bills would also significantly reduce state funding for public universities and colleges, making higher education less affordable and limiting opportunities for economic mobility. Furthermore, a governor-appointed CEO would oversee the operations of each institution, risking political interference and academic freedom. These bills could destroy the reasons why I and others came to Ohio’s public colleges and universities, preventing future students from coming to Ohio. In a recent poll of half a million college students, 61% said they tend to stay in the region where they graduated, so these bills could have long-term negative consequences for Ohio’s economy. 

My mom’s side of the family all lived in northwest Ohio for about 200 years before nearly all leaving in just the last 30. Clearly, something is going on. Something is happening that is preventing people from coming here and staying here, despite Governor DeWine’s money and efforts poured into getting people to live here. Aside from Columbus, Ohio’s population is shrinking. 

Perhaps we should take a look at what Ohio is getting wrong that is causing people to leave or not want to stay. I believe that if our lawmakers spent more time and money on efforts that we really want, rather than wasting time micromanaging our public colleges and universities, we could get more people not just to come here but to stay here and be happy to do so! Please join me in urging our representatives not to waste another minute or dime on SB 83 and HB 151.

In Solidarity,  
Lily Furgeson
Innovation OhioFellow

New Senate Proposal Shifts Power Over Public Education In Ohio

Senate Bill 1, so numbered because it represents the top priority of the newly-elected members of the Ohio Senate Republican majority, is newly-introduced legislation that would make major changes to public education in Ohio, stripping power from Board members elected by voters after the November election saw several Democrats take seats on the board.

The primary impact of SB1, if passed, would be to reorganize the Ohio Department of Education into a new Department of Education and Workforce, headed by a member of the Governor’s cabinet and divided into divisions responsible for primary and secondary and career-technical education. The legislation would mandate that the department identify “in-demand” jobs and provide information to seventh and eighth graders about available careers.

While Article VI, Section 4 of the constitution establishes the State Board of Education and grants it authority over the hiring of a Superintendent of Public Instruction, under SB1, the superintendent would merely serve as an advisor to the Department and support the Board in its greatly limited role of teacher licensure.

Members of the Ohio legislature would have to approve all senior hiring by the Department and could overrule any policies it adopts. This represents a massive shift away from an elected Board of Education, made up of elected representatives from around the state to the gerrymandered supermajority General Assembly. 

Most of the language of Senate Bill 1 is the same as what was included in last session’s SB178, but it also contains new assurances to homeschooling families and private religious schools that the department will not adopt any new rules for them, something that was needed to dispel any opposition to the plan from those corners.

SB1 is a massive change to how education is governed, moving ultimate responsibility for enacting education policy away from elected School Board members to the legislators. And it comes in the wake of voters shaking up the membership of the Board at the ballot box in November. When taken together with recent moves to make it harder for voters to amend the state’s constitution, it’s clear that the priority of legislative Republicans is consolidating power for themselves and silencing the voices of voters.

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 Condemns DeWine’s Repeated Failure to ‘Do Something’ About Gun Violence

Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement condemning Governor Mike DeWine’s signature of HB 99, as well as his continued failure to address gun violence in Ohio: 

“Today, as Ohio’s deadly new permitless carry law goes into effect, Governor DeWine has further betrayed Ohio families by signing HB 99 into law.

“HB 99 — which will arm teachers and school staff with hardly any training — is going to have hugely detrimental effects on Ohio’s Black and Brown children.

“It will not make anyone safer. It will place our babies’ lives at greater risk, and Mike DeWine knows it.

“We all know the ‘good person with a gun’ argument is a myth told by the gun lobby to help them sell more guns. America just saw, by watching the devastation unfold in Uvalde, how such a flimsy argument fails in practice.

“Yet Mike DeWine and Ohio’s Republican supermajority ignored teachers, parents, and police to pass HB 99 and please their donors.

“This weekend, I stood with hundreds of neighbors and friends in Dayton to show solidarity with the national #MarchForOurLives rally.

“We’ve been asking Mike DeWine to #DoSomething about gun violence for years. He has repeatedly failed us and our families.

“Shame on Mike DeWine for once again choosing politics over people.

“Shame on him for choosing campaign donations over children’s lives.

“Ohioans will not forget.”

Desiree Tims Responds to Governor’s SOTS Address

COLUMBUS — Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released a video statement responding to Governor DeWine’s State of the State address. The full statement is copied below:

“My name is Desiree Tims, and I’m the President & CEO of Innovation Ohio. This afternoon, Governor Mike DeWine gave his ‘State of the State’ address. I want to take a few minutes to talk about the REAL state of our state.

“We have an opportunity to make Ohio a comeback state, but first we need leaders who will advance progressive policies that help working families. Unfortunately, Ohio is controlled by Republican extremists and the governor has caved to his party to our detriment.

“I was disappointed to see how many times the governor took credit for things that Joe Biden and Democrats like Sherrod Brown, Joyce Beatty, and Tim Ryan accomplished for our state.

“There are also several major issues that the governor failed to mention.

“Instead of working for all Ohioans, Governor DeWine and Ohio’s Republican supermajority passed tax giveaways for the rich. This gift resulted in the wealthiest 1% of Ohioans receiving an extra $50,000 per year. 

“All while your electric bills go up, housing remains unaffordable, and healthcare workers have yet to receive hazard pay.

“Governor DeWine also failed to mention his Republican Party’s racist attacks. Right now, his party is trying to rewrite history by banning American history books and arresting peaceful protesters fighting for civil rights.

“They demonstrate Republican extremism at its worst.

“Mike DeWine and his party even defied Ohio law by failing to draw legal maps. Meaning, right now, Ohioans have no idea who they will be voting for or what district they will be voting in. This Republican mess has cost Ohio taxpayers millions of dollars. 

“It’s important for Ohioans to know the REAL state of our state — so we can work together to make things better.

“Ohio workers and families deserve the best. It will take all of us together to move our state forward.

“Sign up at InnovationOhio.org to join the fight.”

Desiree Tims Condemns Ohio Representative’s Anti-Semitic Remarks

COLUMBUS — Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement condemning State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur’s disturbing comments about the Holocaust:

“Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur’s anti-Semitic remarks are both disgusting and dangerous. Her extreme views perpetuate some of the atrocities we are seeing on the news right now in places like Ukraine.

“People who hold these views do not belong in public office and should definitely not control our Ohio children’s curriculum.

“I call on the Ohio House to immediately and permanently stop HB 327 from moving forward.“

**Click here to send an email to Ohio legislators demanding that HB 327 be removed from all further consideration.**

Ohio Board of Education Members Forced to Resign for Opposing Racism

Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement after two State Board of Education members were forced to resign for refusing to repeal an anti-racism resolution:

“Unfortunately, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio’s Republican supermajority are failing Black and brown children in Ohio. They are forcing two members to leave Ohio’s State Board of Education, simply because they stood up against racism.

“Last year, Ohio’s State Board of Education passed a resolution condemning racism and acknowledging that Ohio could do more to address inequities in education. This month, far right radicals on the board repealed that resolution. Now the governor and Republicans are going even further — they’re forcing appointed board members who supported the anti-racist resolution to resign or face expulsion.

“This reeks of Jim Crow era policies that impacted Black and brown communities for generations. It’s clear that Governor DeWine is too weak to stand up to the extremists in his own party. We’ve seen him give in to the anti-mask, anti-vaccine crowd over the past few months. He has repeatedly chosen to place our children’s lives at risk rather than enforce basic safety measures. And now the zealots have convinced him to move to overt racism. 

“This assault on education is just one of many. Extremists are using lies about Critical Race Theory to ban discussions of American history and critical thinking skills in our classrooms. These attacks must be stopped at every level of government. And we must support people regardless of their party affiliation who stand up to racism and hate.

“It is vital that Ohioans are informed about local school board candidates and vote in local elections. We need to support candidates who value honesty in education. We need leaders who will stand up for all of Ohio’s children.”

Election Day is this coming Tuesday, November 2nd.

Ohioans can vote early (including this weekend!), or vote on Tuesday.

Don’t stay home this year. Every vote matters, and Ohio’s future depends on it.

Desiree Tims Condemns State Board of Education Vote to Repeal Anti-Racism Resolution

COLUMBUS — Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement condemning Ohio’s State Board of Education for repealing a resolution condemning racism:

“Last year, as Ohioans marched in the streets to protest the murder of George Floyd, our State Board of Education passed a resolution condemning racism.

“Last night, hateful, bigoted board members repealed that resolution.

“I can’t believe I have to say this, but condemning racism should not be controversial. Teaching accurate history should not be controversial. But extremism has come for our state and local governments. 

“Far right radicals are using lies about Critical Race Theory as an excuse to ban honest, accurate, diverse school curriculum.

“And the same type of extremists are running for school boards all across Ohio. 

“It has never been more important to research your local school board candidates, and vote in local school board elections. Rally your friends and neighbors to support candidates who value honesty in education.

 “Election Day is November 2nd this year. You can vote early, or vote on November 2nd. But don’t skip your local elections this year. 

“Our children’s futures are at stake. We have to stop extremism in its tracks.“

Ohio politicians are trying to ban honesty in education. Help stop them.

Our kids deserve an honest, accurate, diverse education. 

Right now, Republican politicians are using lies about Critical Race Theory to ban schools from teaching an honest history. 

Two Ohio bills (HB 327 and HB 322) would essentially ban teachers from discussing racism, sexism, prejudice, gender studies, and other so-called “divisive concepts.” Even in college.

HB 322 and HB 327 are likely both receiving hearings at the Ohio Statehouse next week. Exact details TBA.

Want to testify against these bills? Or submit written-only testimony? Follow this simple process:

HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY (in-person OR written-only):

  • 1. Email Dillon.Barto@Ohiohouse.gov. Ask to be placed on the “House State and Local Government Committee notice list.”
    • You’ll receive emails from the committee. You’ll know first when bill hearings are announced.
  • 3. Fill out a witness slip.
    • Make sure to note on your witness slip whether you are testifying in-person or written-only.
  • 4. When the committee announces the next hearings for these bills, email your testimony and your witness slip to Chair Scott Wiggam’s aide: Dillon.Barto@Ohiohouse.gov
    • Testimony is due 24 hours before the hearing begins.

If you’re submitting written-only testimony, that’s it! You’re done! You officially testified!
(We recommend sharing your testimony on social media so everyone can see it)

If you’re testifying in-person (recommended), see below.

  • 5. Arrive at the Statehouse before the committee is scheduled to begin.
    • Park either in the garage underneath the Statehouse or the Columbus Commons Parking Garage.
    • Note: you’ll need to go through a metal detector when you arrive.
    • You can ask the security guards to direct you to the committee room where your hearing is being held.
  • 6. Bring a printed copy of your testimony with you to read in front of the committee (you do not have to read your testimony word for word).
  • 7. You may also want to bring copies to hand to reporters – You can contact reporters ahead of time to let them know you (and your group) will be testifying!

—TESTIMONY TEMPLATE—

Chairman Wiggam, Vice Chair John, Ranking Member Kelly, and members of the House State and Local Government Committee,

Thank you for allowing me to testify today. My name is ________. I am [basic bio about yourself]. I am strongly opposed to House bills HB 322 and HB 327, which would prevent Ohio students from receiving an honest, accurate education.

Today I'm going to speak speaking specifically about [Choose either HB 322 or HB 327].

[Then tell them why the bill is so bad! Make it short and sweet - a few paragraphs is perfect. Tell a personal story. Or explain why your job experience gives you perspective on the bill. Maybe cite statistics or articles from other states to back up your claims]

I ask you to consider my testimony and vote NO on this [harmful / dangerous / devastating / etc.] bill. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify.

[IF TESTIFYING IN PERSON] I will now take any questions you may have.

AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED SPEAKING, legislators may ask you questions.

  • They are more likely to ask questions if you provide data/statistics or present yourself as having professional experience related to the bill.
  • This part of the process can be incredibly persuasive! But be prepared to back up your testimony!

Questions? Email Rachel Coyle: Coyle@InnovationOhio.org

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