Governor’s Science of Reading Program Honorees  

Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin recently announced the inaugural group of honorees in the new Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program. A total of 47 schools across the state were recognized for their exemplary work aligning their curriculum with the Science of Reading, embracing professional development for teachers and raising literacy achievement among their students. The Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program will honor a new group of schools each year. 

The full list of honorees is available on the Science of Reading Recognition Program webpage. 

Senate activity  

The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 54, the transportation budget, with a vote of 32-0. The bill: 

  • Expands a current law provision that allows for the creation of a school zone for a preschool operated by an Educational Service Center that is located on a street or highway with a 45 m.p.h. or more speed limit under a county's jurisdiction to also include such streets or highways within ODOT's jurisdiction; 
  • Authorizes a school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or a community school to own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies, a motor vehicle originally manufactured and designed to transport up to 12 passengers, including the driver, for regular student transportation, including school related activities and school-sanctioned events;  
  • Eliminates and precludes checks of certain equipment that are currently required by rule for daily pre-trip inspections of school buses but requires the State Highway Patrol to continue to check the omitted equipment in their annual school bus inspections.  

The House concurred with the approved Senate changes to this bill with a vote of 87-3. HB 54 now goes to the governor for signature.  

The chamber also passed Senate Bill (SB) 2, sponsored by Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), will a vote of 31-0. The bill: 

  • Establishes the School Energy Performance Contracting Loan Fund as a custodial fund administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; 
  • Allows a board of education to apply to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for a loan from amounts in the Solar Energy Performance Contracting Loan Fund to pay certain energy conservation measure installment contacts and energy saving measure contracts, including for the installation of solar panels; 
  • Specifies certain loan terms, such as that the loan has 2% annual interest; 
  • Exempts from local property taxes the tangible personal property (TPP) of electric utilities that is used to generate electricity or convert energy and is first used in Ohio after 2025. The bill continues the rate of taxations for existing generation facilities; 
  • Modifies the classification and taxation of TPP used to store and release electricity; 
  • Reduces the percentage of new electric utility TPP used to transmit and distribute electricity subject to tax, often call the “assessment percentage”; 
  • Reduces, from 88% to 25%, the assessment percentage applicable to new pipeline company property; 
  • Specifies that TPP and real property tax exemption for certain renewable energy projects, including payments in lieu of taxes paid under those exemption arrangements, continue despite the bill’s changes. 

The bill, which was reported out of the Senate Energy Committee this week, now heads to the House for consideration. 

House activity  

The House passed HB 28 sponsored by Representatives Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Thomas Hall (R-Middletown) with a vote of 62-29. The bill would eliminate the authority of political subdivisions, including school districts, to levy replacement property tax levies, beginning with elections held on or after October 1, 2025. The bill, which was passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee earlier in the day, now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

Senate Education Committee  

The committee held a second hearing on HB 43, sponsored by Representatives Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) and David Thomas (R-Jefferson). HB 43 would waive minimum instructional hours for Ashtabula Lakeside High School due to extreme winter weather conditions this school year. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill from Lisa Newsome, superintendent, and Laura Jones, board member, from Ashtabula Area City Schools. The committee favorably reported the bill out of committee.  

The committee also held a second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 127, sponsored by Senator Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware). SB 127 would alter the closure requirements for poor-performing public schools. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill. No witnesses were present to testify.  

Senate Workforce Development Committee  

The committee held its fourth hearing on SB 50, sponsored by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster). This bill would make changes regarding age and schooling certificate requirements and work hours for a person under sixteen years of age. The committee favorably reported the bill out of committee. 

Senate Public Utilites Committee  

The committee heard SB 116, sponsored by Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester). This bill would reduce the tangible personal property tax (TPPT) assessment rate for pipeline companies. The committee adopted a substitute bill to narrow the reduction in pipeline TPPT to 25% so that it only applies to new construction. 

The committee held its second hearing on SB 103, sponsored by Sen. Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro). This bill would allow for alternative rate plans for natural gas companies to serve large load customers and make changes to the process of valuating natural gas company property. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.  

Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee 

The committee held its second hearing on SB 8, sponsored by Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City). This bill would prohibit a public employer from providing paid leave or compensation for a public employee to engage in certain union activities. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill. 

House Energy Committee  

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the committee held its hearings on HB 15, sponsored by Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland). This bill makes changes to the competitive retail electric service law and makes changes regarding electric company property taxation. The committee adopted a substitute version of the bill including minor changes to its language. HB 15 is slated for a committee vote next week. 

House Local Government Committee 

The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 124  from Reps. Thomas and Hall. This bill would modify the process for property tax sales-assessment ratio studies. 

House Judiciary Committee  

The committee held a second hearing on HB 79, sponsored by Reps. Joseph A. Miller (D-Amherst) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield). This bill would increase the penalties for assault if the victim were acting as a sports official or the assault were committed in retaliation for the victim's actions as a sports official. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill. 

The committee also held a second hearing on HB 88, sponsored by Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton). This bill would, among other things, require public schools to incorporate instruction on fentanyl awareness and abuse prevention for grades K-12 and require boards of education to designate one week of the school year as "fentanyl poisoning awareness week." The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill. 

House Ways and Means Committee  

The committee held its third hearing on HB 40, sponsored by Reps. Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville) and Michael D. Dovilla (R-Berea). HB 40 would increase the enhanced homestead exemption for certain disabled veterans. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. 

Recently introduced bills 

  • HB 179 – Sponsored by Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), this bill would create a statewide screening system for property tax reduction eligibility and make an appropriation of $7,500,000 to fund the system.  
  • HB 186 – Sponsored by Reps. James M. Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Thomas, this bill would authorize a reduction in school district property taxes affected by a millage floor, limiting increases in such taxes according to inflation; and would require a corresponding adjustment in the school funding formula.  
  • HB 187 – Sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood), this bill would require rather than permit school districts to provide a moment of silence each school day. 
  • HB 189 – Sponsored by Reps. Hall and Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg), this bill would create a statewide behavioral threat management operational process for public and chartered nonpublic schools. 
  • SB 150 – Sponsored by Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township), this bill would increase the sports gaming tax, allocate revenue from the increased tax to fund sports venues and interscholastic athletics, and create a commission of legislators to evaluate projects and award sports venue funds. 

Rules activity  

The Department of Education and Workforce has the following draft rules open for public comment at this time:  

  • Chapter 3301-11: Educational Choice Scholarship Program 
    • OAC 3301-11-01: Definitions 
    • OAC 3301-11-04: Eligibility for program participation 
    • OAC 3301-11-05: Application for program participation 
    • OAC 3301-11-07: Awarding scholarships 
    • OAC 3301-11-09: Termination of eligibility 
    • OAC 3301-11-10: Payment of scholarship amounts 
    • OAC 3301-11-11: Participation by chartered nonpublic schools 

Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment.  

The State Board of Education does not have any rules open for public comment at this time.  

Federal update 

Please click here to read the most recent Federal Advocacy Report which includes up-to-date information on federal education efforts.  Click here to read the most recent Federal Court Report. 

Posted by Malania Birney on 3/21/2025