Facts in a Flash

This week marked the end of the 135^th General Assembly (GA). All legislation that did not receive a favorable vote from both the House and Senate will “die” in this GA – to become laws, those bills will need to be introduced again in the new year by the next set of legislators. The 136^th General Assembly will hold their ceremonial opening session on Monday, January 6, 2025. Bill introductions will commence the following week, with both chambers slated to return for session the week of January 20, 2025.  

Governor’s Activity 

On…

The countdown continues! This issue of Facts in a Flash outlines the progress made by the General Assembly this week on priority legislation. Just one more week remains to get their top issues across the finish line. 

Governor’s Activity 

On Monday, Governor DeWine signed HB 432. This bill was sponsored by Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) and will make changes regarding alternate credentialing pathways for career-technical educators and add harmonizing amendments to the already…

This issue of Facts in a Flash reviews legislative activity from the first week of December, marking “the beginning of the end” of lame duck. Now, the Ohio General Assembly has just two weeks left to get their priority legislation to Governor DeWine’s desk before the holidays.  

Senate Activity 

The Senate passed HB 78 with a vote of 29-0. This bill was sponsored by Reps. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Joe Miller (…

It has been a busy week at the Ohio Statehouse! In addition to the committee hearings and legislative activity below, the newly elected members of the House and Senate held informal votes to decide chamber leadership for the upcoming 136^th General Assembly. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) was selected to be the next Speaker of the House and Rob McColley (R- Napoleon) was selected to be the next Senate President. These elections will need to be finalized on the House and Senate floor when the chambers officially meet in January 2025.  

This week Ohio’s AI in Education Coalition…

The Ohio General Assembly has returned with a flurry of legislative activity. This issue of Facts in a Flash recaps this busy week and outlines everything you need to know! 

Senate Activity 

The Senate concurred with the House’s amendments to Senate Bill (SB) 104, sponsored by Sen. Jerry C. Cirino (R-Kirtland) and Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), with a vote of 24-7. SB104 originally addressed…

Welcome to Lame Duck!  

Now that the November Election is over, the General Assembly will return to the Statehouse for a handful of lame-duck sessions before the end of the year. The Senate will return next week with both committee hearings and a session scheduled for Wednesday, 11/13. The House has does not have a session scheduled until December but will be holding various committee hearings on Tuesday, 11/12. Facts in a Flash will keep you up to date on legislative activity during these session dates.  

Next week, OSBA’s…

It was a very active week at the Statehouse! The legislature amended and passed many bills this week ahead of their summer recess. The General Assembly is not expected to return to session until after the November election.

House Activity
The House agreed to the Senate changes to House Bill (HB) 2, sponsored by Reps. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland). Earlier in the day the Senate…

House Finance Committee 
The committee met and heard testimony on House Bill (HB) 629, sponsored by Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville). This legislation would make capital and other appropriations. The bill includes $600 million for construction and renovation of K-12 school buildings. Kim Murnieks, Director of the Office of Budget and Management provided testimony outlining the projects to be funded by the bill.

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House activity
The House passed House Bill (HB) 380, sponsored by Reps. Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) and Kevin D. Miller (R-Newark), with a vote of 87-0. This bill would designate a portion of Interstate 70 in Licking County as the “Tuscarawas Valley Memorial Highway.”

The House passed HB 378, sponsored by Reps.…

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee heard proponent testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 29, sponsored by Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City). The bill would make changes regarding education records and student data privacy. The committee accepted an amendment to the bill that would include devices and accounts provided by a school district to an individual student for the student's…