Senate Activity
The Senate joined the House and voted 24-8 to override Governor DeWine’s veto of House Bill (HB) 68, sponsored by Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery). The bill would prohibit gender affirming care for minors and would designate the act as the Ohio Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. The bill also included HB 6, which would enact the Save Women's Sports Act to require schools, state institutions of higher education and private colleges to designate separate single-sex teams and sports for each sex. HB 68 now takes effect on April 23, 2024. 

Senate Education Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 214, sponsored by Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), which would require each public school to adopt a policy regarding certain expectations related to the performance of staff member professional duties. The bill clarifies that schools cannot require employees or job applicants to offer an opinion about specific beliefs, affiliations, ideals or principles.

The committee heard sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 205, sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would require the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop a list of evidence-based curricula, materials and instruction in the harmful effects of and legal restrictions against drug abuse, alcoholic beverages, marijuana and tobacco in schools.

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 250, sponsored by Reps. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville), which revises the military enlistment diploma seal and renames the “military enlistment seal” the “military seal.” 

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 344, sponsored by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would eliminate replacement property tax levies and would make changes to the laws regarding property tax valuation complaints, counter-complaints and appeals. OSBA, the Ohio Assoc. of School Business Officials (OASBO) and the Buckeye Assoc. of School Administrators (BASA) provided opposition testimony which can be found here. Todd Puster, Treasurer, Orange City provided opposition testimony as well.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 186, sponsored by Sens. Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) and Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), which 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.

House Public Utilities Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on HB 197, sponsored by Reps. James Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), which would establish the community solar pilot program and the solar development program.

Senate Financial Institutions and Technology Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 74, sponsored by Rep. Hall. The bill 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.

Joint Committee on Property Tax Review
The joint committee met for the second time and heard invitation-only testimony from the County Auditors Association of Ohio and the Board of Tax Appeals to gain information on what they do and how their work is done in relation to the property tax valuations process. The committee is tasked with reviewing Ohio’s current property tax structure and making recommendations on how to proceed with bills related to property tax reform in order to avoid tax burdens for some groups as well as avoid creating issues for public school funding. The committee has not announced how many additional meetings will be held, but says it hopes to be finished with its work between March and June.

Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 154, sponsored by Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which makes changes to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) to include Space Force in the definition of the armed forces, armed services and uniformed services of the United States. The following section of the ORC related to education will be amended to include the Space Force:

  • State Teachers Retirement System’s military service credit;
  • Public School Employees Retirement System’s military service credit;
  • Board of Education – presentation of career info to students;
  • Reemployment of school employees under the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act. 

The Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

  • OAC 3301-16-08 State seal of biliteracy;
  • OAC 3301-51-09 Delivery of services;
  • OAC 3301-7-01 Standards for the ethical use of tests;
  • OAC 3301-8-01 Payment of debt charges under the state credit enhancement program;
  • OAC Chapter 3301-13 Proficiency tests;
  • OAC 3301-15-02 Exemptions from state statutory provisions and rules; 
  • OAC 3301-16-04 College and work ready assessment transition; 
  • OAC 3301-17 Reports for Statewide Education Management Information System;
  • OAC 3301-48 Open enrollment programs;
  • OAC 3301-51-15 Operating standards for identifying and serving students who are gifted;
  • OAC 3301-61 Vocational education;
  • OAC 3301-52-01 Appropriate uses of early child education screening and assessment information;
  • OAC 3301-102-08: Standards for measuring sponsor compliance with applicable laws and rules;
  • OAC 3301-101 Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program. 

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

Posted by Scott Palider on 1/26/2024