Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 250, which includes the requirement that districts adopt a cellphone usage policy. Under the bill, this policy will need to be in place by July 1, 2025. Other provisions in the bill include the following:

  • Renames the “Military Enlistment Seal” to the “Military Seal.”
  • Establishes new pathways for a high school student to earn the seal;
  • Permits a licensed educator with a grade band specification under former law to renew the license in accordance with former law or the law in effect on the license’s renewal date.
  • Specifies that a licensed teacher employed by a district or school to teach two grade levels outside of the designated grade band on the teacher’s license is a “properly certified or licensed teacher.”
  • Divides the Pupil Transportation Pilot Program into two distinct programs with different requirements.
  • Requires that an educational service center (ESC) in the Franklin County program identify students who are struggling with transportation issues as determined by their resident districts, instead of identifying districts, to participate in the program.
  • Qualifies students transported by an ESC in the Montgomery County program who are struggling with transportation issues who do not attend their resident school or are students with disabilities.
  • Requires that the ESCs of both programs report students transported under the program to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW).
  • Permits participating ESCs to use other approved vehicles for student transportation, rather than only school buses, and permits ESCs to use other authorized individuals in other approved vehicles, rather than only bus drivers.
  • Transfers administrative authority over the High School Financial Literacy Fund from the superintendent of public instruction to the ODEW director.
  • Changes an incorrect reference from “the State Board of Education” to “the Director of Education and Workforce” in the school psychologist law.
  • Requires that ODEW, instead of the State Board, incorporate academic concepts of free market capitalism into the standards and model curriculum for high school financial literacy.
  • Requires Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services to consult with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth in carrying out its educational program for parents of blind or visually impaired children. 

Deputy director nominated
ODEW Director Stephen D. Dackin announced his recommendation that Jeremy B. Varner serve as the deputy director of ODEW’s Division of Career-Technical Education and Workforce. Varner was the administrator of the Division of Community College and Workforce Preparation at the Iowa Department of Education. The appointment must now be confirmed by the Ohio Senate.

House Higher Education Committee 
The committee met twice this week and heard presentations on implementing the science of reading from the following:

  • Fordham Institute
  • Ohio P-20 Literacy Collaborative
  • ExcelinEd
  • National Council on Teacher Quality
  • Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey
  • ODEW Director Dackin 

House State and Local Government Committee 
The committee heard sponsor testimony from Reps. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) on HB 491. This bill would require political subdivisions, including school districts, and state retirement systems to participate in the Ohio State and Local Government Expenditure Database (Ohio Checkbook). HB 491 also requires that the database include revenue information and operating budgets. 

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a fifth hearing on HB 378, sponsored by Reps. Nick Santucci (R-Howland Twp.) and Brian Lorenz (R-Powell), which would create an enhanced homestead exemption for the surviving spouses of uniformed service members killed in the line of duty equal to all taxes imposed on the homestead. The bill would reimburse local taxing units for the resulting reduction in taxes like other homestead exemptions. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.

The committee heard proponent testimony on HB 496, sponsored by Rep. James M. Hoops (R-Napoleon). This bill would revise the law governing property taxes and county auditors.

The committee heard proponent testimony on HB 386, sponsored by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Brian E. Lampton (R-Beavercreek). This bill would phase out the state income tax on nonbusiness income over six years and repeal the commercial activities tax in 2030.

New bills introduced
HB 525, introduced by Reps. Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma) and Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County), would make changes regarding the penalty for assault when the victim is a school employee or volunteer.

HB 541, introduced by Reps. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and Richard Dell’Aquila (D-Seven Hills), would require school employees to report certain minor labor law violations.

HB 542, introduced by Reps. Bill Dean (R-Xenia) and P. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin), would create the “Blanchester Wildcats” license plate.

HB 543, introduced by Reps. Willis E. Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton) and Bernard Willis (R-Springfield), would require payment of property taxes and assessments when a lot is split or transferred and generally prohibit tax-delinquent property owners from purchasing tax-foreclosed property.

HB 556, introduced by Mathews, would create criminal liability for certain teachers and librarians for the offense of pandering obscenity.

HB 557, introduced by Mathews, would permit schools to withhold and remove directory information from the public record definition.

HB 560, introduced by Reps. Joseph A. Miller III (D-Amherst) and Darnell T. Brewer (D-Cleveland), would make changes regarding implicit bias training for licensed educators.

HB 561, introduced by Reps. Brennan and Veronica Sims (D-Akron), would prohibit for-profit operators of community schools.

HB 563, introduced by Brennan, would enact the Future Educators Support Act regarding financial support for student teachers, teaching as an in-demand job and school district staffing surveys.

HB 567, introduced by Reps. Phillip M. Robinson Jr. (D-Solon) and Brennan, would enact the EdChoice Fair Fiscal Responsibility Act to revise the operations of the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program.

HB 569, introduced by Reps. Robinson and Miller, would reinstate the Joint Education Oversight Committee and make an appropriation.

HB 571, introduced by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering), would require schools and higher education institutions to include the national suicide and crisis lifeline telephone number on student identification cards, student planners and electronic portals.

HB 572, introduced by White, would require that the chancellor of higher education conduct an audit of educator preparation programs to determine what instruction they are providing to students on mental and behavioral health, behavior management and classroom management and make recommendations.

HB 574, introduced by Reps. Robinson and Juanita O. Brent (D-Cleveland), would allow State Board of Education employees to use accrued sick leave for a parental leave of absence.

HB 575, introduced by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Robinson, would enact the Private School Accountability and Transparency Act regarding financial, reporting and other requirements applicable to chartered nonpublic schools.

HB 579, introduced by Reps. Brennan and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), would allow a township to levy a tax to pay for school district resource officers.

HB 581, introduced by Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Isaacsohn, would enact the Charter School Oversight Act.

HB 582, introduced by Robinson and Piccolantonio, would enact the School Busing Improvement Act for the transportation of students and to make an appropriation.

HB 585, introduced by Rep. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus), would make an appropriation to promote food options for students with religious dietary restrictions.

HB 591, introduced by Reps. Brennan and Rachel B. Baker (D-Cincinnati), would enact the Charter School Sponsor and Operator Rating Act regarding report cards for community school sponsors and operators.

HB 592, introduced by Piccolantonio and Brewer, would enact the School Rating Enhancement Act to establish state report cards for chartered nonpublic schools that enroll state scholarship students and establish the State Report Card Review Committee.

HB 595, introduced by Robinson, would increase the rate of sports gaming tax on certain operators, require all-day kindergarten, establish universal preschool programs and name the bill the Universal Preschool Act.

HB 596, introduced by Robinson, would require school board approval of municipal tax increment financing incentive district arrangements.

House Joint Resolution 6, introduced by Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Scott Wiggam (R-Wayne County), would propose to enact Section 23 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to limit property tax increases for a property owner to not more than 4% per year.

Senate Bill 271, introduced by Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township) and Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus), would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceed 5% of their income.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, introduced by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), would urge Congress and the president of the United States, along with the United States Department of Education to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity from Title IX.

Rules Activity
ODEW has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

  • Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 83 Pupil Transportation
  • OAC 3301-83-01 Calculation of pupil transportation operation payments
  • OAC 3301-83-04 Scope and definition
  • OAC 3301-83-05 Administration
  • OAC 3301-83-06 Personnel qualifications
  • OAC 3301-83-07 School transportation driver physical qualifications rule
  • OAC 3301-83-08 Pupil transportation management policies
  • OAC 3301-83-09 Pupil instruction
  • OAC 3301-83-10 Personnel training program
  • OAC 3301-83-11 School bus inspections
  • OAC 3301-83-12 Safety procedures
  • OAC 3301-83-13 School bus routes and stops
  • OAC 3301-83-14 Records and reports
  • OAC 3301-83-15 Emergency and evacuation procedures
  • OAC 3301-83-16 Non-routine use of school buses
  • OAC 3301-83-17 Authorized and unauthorized passengers
  • OAC 3301-83-18 Passenger capacity
  • OAC 3301-83-19 Authorized vehicles for transportation of pupils to and from school and school-related events
  • OAC 3301-83-20 General rules
  • OAC 3301-83-21 Supplementary provisions for county boards of developmental disabilities
  • OAC 3301-83-22 Vehicle maintenance
  • OAC 3301-83-24 School transportation fees
  • OAC 3301-83-25 Transportation collaboration grant Click here to view the rules open for public comment. 

Federal Update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report which includes education-related information.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 5/17/2024