Senate Education Committee
The committee heard testimony from the Interim State Superintendent, Chris Woolard, who spoke on the state report card for the 2022-2023 school year. The overview showed how Ohio’s public schools have been improving in some sections of student achievement while still showing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to watch Dr. Woolard’s testimony.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 153, sponsored by Sens. George Lang (R-West Chester) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would temporarily modify the method for valuing farmland and other real property for tax purposes.
House Pension
The committee held a fourth hearing on House Bill (HB) 78, sponsored by Reps. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Joseph A. Miller III (D-Amherst), which would change the State Teachers Retirement Board membership to allow retirees who are reemployed to seek election as a contributing or retired member of the board.
House Finance Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 164, sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Seitz, which establishes the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program. The bill requires the Department of Education to hire a full-time school foster care liaison and make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.
Redistricting Commission
The Ohio Redistricting Commission came to a unanimous agreement this week to accept state house and senate maps. The new state level maps are set to last until 2030 if no legal cases are brought forth. The final maps can be found here on the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s website.
New bills introduced
SB 162, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), requires public schools to provide certain academic intervention services to each student who demonstrates a limited level in math and English language arts.