Senate activity
The Senate accepted a motion, without objection, to insist on its amendments to House Bill (HB) 126 and request a conference committee. The House and Senate will now appoint members to the conference committee.

Ohio Supreme Court
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the House and Senate state legislative maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission are unconstitutional. The Ohio Redistricting Commission has until March 28 to approve new maps.

State Board of Education
The State Board of Education unanimously approved the state report card administrative rules after accepting some technical amendments. Click here to view the amendments and click here to read the final rules.

The State Board’s Teaching, Leading and Learning Committee delayed a vote on the Dyslexia Guidebook. The members of the committee will provide forthcoming recommendations to be considered by the Ohio Dyslexia Committee.

House Finance Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 597, sponsored by Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), which would provide capital reappropriations, including approximately $442.8 million for local school construction through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission that received prior conditional approval.

Senate Finance Committee
The committee held a first hearing on HB 597, sponsored by Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), which would provide capital reappropriations, including approximately $442.8 million for local school construction through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission that received prior conditional approval.

Senate Local Government and Elections Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 458, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would eliminate the August special election, except in instances when the August special election is to nominate or elect candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives or if a school district is under a fiscal emergency. The bill also would allow a school district whose entire territory is located within the congressional district that is on the August ballot to put certain levies on the August ballot.

The committee held sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 260, sponsored by Sen. George F. Lang (R-West Chester), which would expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 45, which would require the state tax commissioner to administer a temporary amnesty program from July 1, 2022, through Aug. 31, 2022, with respect to delinquent state, local sales and use taxes and also certain fees.

The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 268, sponsored by Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which would exempt from property tax the homestead of a veteran discharged under honorable conditions.

Senate Judiciary Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on SB 288, which would update employment laws as they pertain to Head Start agencies along with other changes.

Senate Financial Institutions and Technology Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 230, sponsored by Reps. Sharon A. Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would establish a plan to migrate the state’s information technology systems to the state’s computer center and cloud environment and establish a cybersecurity and fraud advisory board.

Senate General Government Budget Committee
The committee passed House Concurrent Resolution 13, sponsored by Reps. J. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) and Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria). The resolution urges Congress to enact The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which would permanently extend daylight saving time. Paula Crew, superintendent, Tecumseh Local (Clark) provided proponent testimony.

Federal omnibus appropriations bill
President Joe Biden signed the fiscal year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, which provides $1.5 trillion in funding. The bill contains education funding in the following amounts:

  • $76.4 billion in discretionary appropriations for the department of education, an increase of $2.9 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level;
  • $17.5 billion for ESSA Title I Grants to local educational agencies, an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level;
  • $2.2 billion for ESSA Title II-A, an increase of $27 million above the FY 2021 enacted level;
  • $13.3 billion for IDEA Part B, an increase of $406 million above the FY 2021 enacted level;
  • $1.3 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program state grants, an increase of $60 million above the FY 2021 enacted level;
  • $1.38 billion for CTE state grants, an increase of $45 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

The final bill does not include an extension of the meal waiver authority to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The current authority for USDA to issue waivers is set to expire June 30, 2022. 

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education has the following proposed rule open for public comment:

  • OAC 3301-41-01 Ohio certificate of high school equivalence.

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 3/18/2022