Innovation Ohio

What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy

Statehouse Preview for Feb 26, 2024: Guns and abortion back on statehouse agenda

This week at the Statehouse, the Senate is preparing to vote on a measure (SB215) to block campaign contributions to statewide ballot campaigns by foreign interests. The bill is up for two committee hearings Tuesday and Wednesday, setting it up for a vote of the full Senate as early as Wednesday afternoon.

Another Senate committee is hearing a bill (SB159) this week to create state tax credits for voluntary donations to crisis pregnancy centers, anti-abortion advocacy organizations masquerading as clinics. 

Also happening this week: a GOP-sponsored bill (SB148) to prohibit credit card companies from tracking firearm purchases. Separately last week, House Democrats introduced a package of legislation to limit gun violence. See “New Legislation This Week”, below, for more on these proposals.

A full run down of the bills and hearings we are watching this week follows.

New Legislation This Week

We will be keeping an eye on the following bills, introduced in the last three weeks at the Statehouse:

House Bill 398 (Miranda, Abdullahi) – Salaries – to prohibit employers from seeking a prospective employee’s wage or salary history.

House Bill 400 (Callender, Sweeney) – Medicare – to provide Medigap policies for Medicare-eligible individuals under the age of 65.

House Bill 417 (Grim, Abdullahi) – Domestic Violence – to enact the Keeping Our Survivors Safe Act to prohibit a person who is charged with or has been convicted of first degree misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing a firearm or dangerous ordnance.

House Bill 418 (Brown, Isaacsohn) – Concealed Carry – regards a concealed handgun licensee’s duty to carry the license and notify a law enforcement officer if the licensee is carrying a concealed handgun and the rights of a qualifying adult to carry a concealed handgun in the same manner as if the person was a licensee, and to rename concealed handgun licenses as basic competency licenses.

House Bill 419 (Robinson, Isaacsohn) – Firearm Transfers – to require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.

House Bill 421 (Brewer) – State Task Force – to establish the Ohio Task Force on Gun Violence.

House Bill 427 (Jarrells, Lipps) – Minimum Wage – to phase out the subminimum wage for individuals with physical or mental disabilities and to name this act the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act.

You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Tuesday

11:00am – Senate Small Business & Economic Opportunity – 2nd hearing (proponent) on SB198 (Inmates). Senate South Hearing Room or watch online.

2:15pm – Senate Finance – 2nd hearing (proponent) on SB159 (Pregnancy Resource Centers). Senate Finance Hearing Room or watch online. 

3:00pm – Senate General Government – 2nd hearing (all testimony) on SB215 (Ballot Issue Campaigns). Senate North Hearing Room or watch online. 

4:00pm – Senate Veterans & Public Safety – 4th hearing (all testimony & vote) on SB148 (Firearms Purchases). Senate Finance Hearing Room or watch online. 

Wednesday

10:00am – Senate General Government – 3rd hearing (possible amendments and vote) on SB215 (Ballot Issue Campaigns). Senate North Hearing Room or watch online. 

1:30pm – Senate Session – agenda TBD – webcast

Because schedules change, every weekday morning activities are planned at the Statehouse, we post an update on Twitter. Follow the #OHLeg hashtag for more updates.

Full House Committee Schedule
Full Senate Committee Schedule
Full Ohio Channel Broadcast Schedule

Sign up for legislative alerts and other updates at innovationohio.org/signup

Statehouse Preview for Feb. 5, 2024: Anti-Trans “Bathroom Bill” Set For Committee Vote

A House committee is set to vote this week on a bill that would require the use of bathrooms that correspond to the sex assigned at birth in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. House Bill 183 would also prohibit schools from establishing multigender restrooms. HB183 has had four hearings, with the majority of witnesses testifying in opposition to the bill, calling it impractical and dehumanizing to trans people.

A full run down of the bills and hearings we are watching this week follows.

New Legislation This Week

We will be keeping an eye on the following bills, introduced in the last two weeks at the Statehouse:

House Bill 387 (McNally, Brent) – Academic Distress Commissions – to dissolve existing academic distress commissions, to repeal the law tha crates new commissions, and to declare an emergency.

House Bill 394 (Holmes) – Higher Education – to prohibit state institutions of higher education from requiring individuals to commit to specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals or principles.

Senate Bill 215 (Gavarone, McColey) – Ballot Issue Campaigns – to prohibit foreign nationals from making contrbutios or expenditures regarding ballot issue campaigns.

Senate Bill 216 (Lang, Huffman) – State Tax – to phase-out the state income tax on nonbusiness income over six years and to repeal the commercial activity tax after 2029.

You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Tuesday

10:30am – House Finance – 1st hearing (sponsor) of HB2 (Economic Growth and Development). Statehouse Room 313 or watch online.

12:00pm – House Government Oversight – 2nd hearing (proponent) on HJR3 (Consitutional Convention of the States). Statehouse Room 121 or watch online.

Wednesday

9:30pm – House Higher Education – 5th hearing (possible vote) on HB183 (Single-Sex Bathroom Facilities). Statehouse Room 017 or watch online.

10:00am – House Finance – 2nd hearing (possible vote) on HB2 (Economic Growth and Development). Statehouse Room 313 or watch online.

2:00pm – House Session – agenda TBD – webcast

Because schedules change, every weekday morning activities are planned at the Statehouse, we post an update on Twitter. Follow the #OHLeg hashtag for more updates.
Full House Committee ScheduleFull Senate Committee ScheduleFull Ohio Channel Broadcast Schedule
Sign up for legislative alerts and other updates at innovationohio.org/signup

Statehouse Preview for Jan 22, 2024: Senate to vote on HB68 veto override

The Senate is expected to vote on Wednesday to override the Governor’s veto of HB68, a bill that bans gender-affirming care and prohibits trans girls from participating in youth sports. The Governor vetoed the legislation based on input from families and experts, but the GOP-dominated legislature is determined to pursue its agenda.

In order to override the Governor’s veto, the measure requires 3/5 of the members, or 20 votes. The legislation passed in December with 24 yes votes.

New Legislation This Week

We will be keeping an eye on the following bills, introduced in the last few weeks at the Statehouse:

Senate Bill 212 (Kunze, Demora) – Online Porn – regards age verification for online pornographic material

You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Tuesday
3:30pm – Senate Education – 1st hearing (sponsor testimony) on HB214 (public school employees) and SB205 (substance use education). Senate South Hearing Room or watch online.
 
Wednesday
1:30pm – Senate Session – Agenda TBD (expected override vote on Governor’s veto of HB68) – webcast
 
3:30pm – Senate Veterans & Public Safety – 3rd hearing (all testimony, possible vote) on SB148 (Firearms Purchases) and 1st hearing (sponsor testimony) on SB164 (Suicide Self-Defense Act). Senate Grant Hearing Room or watch online.

Because schedules change, every weekday morning activities are planned at the Statehouse, we post an update on Twitter. Follow the #OHLeg hashtag for more updates.

Full House Committee Schedule
Full Senate Committee Schedule
Full Ohio Channel Broadcast Schedule

Sign up for legislative alerts and other updates at innovationohio.org/signup

Statehouse Preview for Jan. 8, 2024: House to hold veto override vote on anti-trans bill

House to hold veto override vote on anti-trans bill

The House is returning this week to vote whether to override the Governor’s veto of HB68, a bill that bans gender-affirming care and prohibits trans girls from participating in youth sports. The Governor vetoed the legislation based on input from families and experts, but the GOP-dominated legislature is determined to pursue its agenda, with encouragement from candidates for US Senate and the former President. 

In order to override the Governor’s veto, the legislature requires 3/5 of the members. In the House, where the override vote is set to take place, that means 59 votes. The legislation received 62 votes to pass last month, so four yes votes would have to flip or be absent for the veto to stand. The House vote, if it happens, is currently scheduled for Wednesday at 2pm. If overridden, the Senate must also act before the end of the two-year general assembly in December. 

The only other hearing we are watching this week is the possible introduction of a substitute version of HB183, the so-called “bathroom bill” that would currently require use of a bathroom that corresponds to the gender assigned at birth at educational facilities. Numerous witnesses testified on the impracticality of enforcement, among other issues with the proposal.

Lastly, House Republicans have introduced legislation (HB371) that would require any lawsuits related to November’s Issue 1 proposal to protect abortion rights to go through the legislature instead of the courts. 

A full run down of the bills and hearings we are watching this week follows.

New Legislation This Week

We will be keeping an eye on the following bills, introduced in the last few weeks at the Statehouse:

House Bill 371 (Dean, Gross) – Abortion – to enact the Issue 1 Implementation Act

Senate Bill 209 (Hicks-Hudson) – Firearms – to increase the penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm.

You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Wednesday:

9:00am – House Higher Education – 4th hearing (sponsor testimony & possible substitute bill) on HB183 (single-sex bathrooms). Statehouse Room 017 or watch online.

2:00pm – House Session – Agenda TBD – webcast

Statehouse Preview for 12/11/23: Transgender Youth and Adult Cannabis Use In Focus

Transgender Youth and Adult Cannabis Use In Focus

In their final week of work before taking a break for the holidays, statehouse lawmakers are once again taking aim at transgender kids and school policies that promote diversity and inclusion. Two bills up for committee votes this week are HB68, which bans gender-affirming care and prohibits trans girls from participating in youth sports; and HB8, a so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” bill that forces teachers to out their students and requires parental approval of classroom “sexuality” material similar to Florida’s controversial “don’t say gay” legislation.

The House Finance committee continues its review (HB354) of Ohio’s marijuana laws in the wake of the passage and recent legalization of marijuana use among adults.

New Legislation This Week

We will be keeping an eye on the following bills, introduced last week at the Statehouse:

Senate Bill 201 (DeMora) – Judgeships – to require justice of the Supreme Court and judge of court of appeals candidates to appear on the nonpartisan ballot with other judicial candidates.

You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Preview for Oct 30, 2023: Higher Ed Reform Back In Play

It’s Official: The Legislature In Back In Session

it’s another slow week at the statehouse with both chambers out of session, but we have several committee hearings to watch in our wrap-up below.

One development we’re watching closely is movement on SB83, a so-called Higher Education “reform” bill that, when originally proposed early in 2023, would block unionized campus employees from striking during a labor dispute. The bill also prohibits many courses and diversity programs that focus on the study of gender or race. Negotiations are ongoing between the House and Senate on a compromise version that may include changes such as excluding non-faculty staff from a strike ban. A hearing is currently scheduled for Wednesday morning in the House Higher Education committee with the introduction of a substitute bill possible. 

Below are all the new bills and events around the Statehouse we’re watching this week.

New Legislation This Week

No new bills were introduced last week that we are adding to our tracker. You can always view the full list of the bills we are monitoring here.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Tuesday

10:30am – House State & Local Government – 1st hearing (sponsor testimony) on HB271 (Election Ballots). Statehouse Room 119 or watch online.

11:00am – House Transportation – 3rd hearing (opponent testimony) on HR198 (Electric Vehicles) and HB279 (school bus safety restraints). Statehouse Room 017 or watch online.

2:30pm – House Government Oversight – 3rd hearing (opponen testimony) on HB272 (Concealed Handguns). Statehouse Room 114 or watch online.

Wednesday

10:30am – House Public Health Policy – 1st hearing (sponsor testimony) on HJR4 (Face Masks). Statehouse Room 121 or watch online. 

10:30am – House Higher Education – 2nd hearing (sponsor testimony & possible substitute) on SB83 (Higher Education Reform). Statehouse Room 017 or watch online.

Because schedules change, every weekday morning activities are planned at the Statehouse, we post an update on Twitter. Follow the #OHLeg hashtag for more updates.
Full House Committee ScheduleFull Senate Committee ScheduleFull Ohio Channel Broadcast Schedule
Sign up for legislative alerts and other updates at innovationohio.org/signup

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.

Defend the right to vote in Ohio. Stop HB 458

Ohioans across the political spectrum agree: every eligible citizen should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

House Bill 458 is the opposite of what Ohioans want.

If HB 458 becomes law:

  • Voters will lose access to drop boxes. Boards of Election will be limited to a single drop box location, which is open during business hours only, and can only be used during the early voting period.
  • Voters will lose the freedom to register to vote and/or vote with an alternate form of ID, such as a utility bill, government document, or paycheck.
  • Most voters will lose the freedom to vote provisionally with the last four digits of their social security number.
  • Voters will be punished by slow mail delivery. Absentee ballots will be thrown out if they are not received by the end of Election Day. This even applies to overseas and military voters.
  • Voters will be forced to provide a strict photo ID to vote, whether voting by absentee ballot, or in person on Election Day, or provisionally.
  • Most August special elections will be eliminated, which harms our local school districts.

This bill is a clear and direct attack on millions of people’s voting rights. 


HB 458 is destructive and completely unnecessary. A solution looking for a problem. It only hurts Ohioans’ ability to participate in their democracy.

Elected officials should be making voting easier for all eligible voters, not harder.

Help stop this devastating bill. Contact these state officials. Remind them Ohio is watching.

Support People over Politicians — Stop Ohio HJR 6

For over 100 years, Ohioans have had the right to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures, place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, and pass it into law. That’s the power of the people.

But now, two Ohio politicians are trying to take this right away.

While you and your family prepare for the holidays, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and State Rep Brian Stewart are trying to pass HJR 6.

Under HJR 6, Ohioans who gather signatures and place an amendment on the ballot would need to win a supermajority (60%) of statewide votes for their amendment to become law.

That means just 41% of voters could block what the majority of voters want. Ohio would be run by minority rule.

We believe the people of Ohio should have the final say, not lobbyists and politicians. If you agree, take action to help stop this attack on your freedoms.

1.) Testify in-person against HJR 6. Click here for info on how to testify in-person.

2.) Submit written-only testimony against HJR 6. Click here for info on how to submit written-only testimony.

3.) Tell these officials to respect your right to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives. DO NOT LET HJR 6 pass:

  • Email key Ohio legislators
  • Call House Government Oversight Committee Chair Shane Wilkin: 614-466-3506
  • Call House Speaker Bob Cupp: 614-466-9624
  • Call Senate President Matt Huffman: 614-466-7584

Every action you take helps defend Ohioans’ freedoms.

Stay informed about key issues and bills.

Sign Up

We monitor Ohio politicians to help you hold them accountable.