Senate Activity
The Ohio Senate passed House Bill (HB) 250, sponsored by Reps. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), which would revise the “military enlistment seal” and rename it the “military seal”, with a vote of 32-0. The bill now heads to the Ohio House where they will consider the amendments made by the Senate.

House Activity
The Ohio House passed HB 70, sponsored by Reps. Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Rock Creek) and Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester), with a vote of 92-1. This bill would require schools to adopt a policy regarding the administration of over-the-counter drugs. 

The House also passed HB 230, sponsored by Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Hamilton) and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), with a vote of 80-13. The bill would require districts  to provide age appropriate, research-based instruction on the dangers of fentanyl to students in grades K-12 beginning in the 24-25 school year. The bill also requires districts to designate a week during the school year as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week” as part of these education efforts. 

Both of these bills are now headed to the Senate for consideration.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a 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 makes changes regarding property tax complaints. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee accepted an amendment to the bill that does the following:

  • Removes the bill's penalty on subdivisions that fail to comply with property tax complaint filing requirements, instead requiring that if a subdivision, or a third party acting on a subdivision's behalf, files a complaint that does not comply with those requirements, the subdivision or third party must pay the property owner's costs and attorney's fees. 
  • Requires a third-party complainant to file an affidavit, with a board of revision complaint, stating whether the complainant is or is not acting on behalf of a subdivision. Falsification of such an affidavit is a first-degree misdemeanor. 
  • Removes a provision of the bill that specifically allows third parties acting on behalf of a school board to file counter-complaints. Current law only specifically allows the property owner or a school board to file counter-complaints. 
  • Limits the application of the bill's complaint-related changes only to complaints, counter-complaints and appeals filed on or after the provision's effective date. 

The committee also heard proponent testimony 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 in the same manner as other homestead exemptions.

House Primary & Secondary Education Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 407 from Reps. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati). This legislation would:

  • Establish new reporting requirements for chartered nonpublic schools that enroll students participating in a general scholarship program (either the Ed Choice Scholarship Program or the Cleveland Scholarship Program). 
  • Expressly require public money held by a chartered nonpublic school that enrolls general scholarship students to be accounted for separately from other funds. 
  • Require the Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) to issue a state report card for qualifying chartered nonpublic schools that enroll general scholarship students and to report other specified student performance and family adjusted gross income data. 
  • Eliminate exceptions that permit general scholarship students to take alternative assessments instead of state assessments and qualify for a high school diploma based on alternative assessments. 
  • Establish or modify reporting requirements regarding the Ed Choice Scholarship Program for chartered nonpublic schools and ODEW. 
  • Require each public and chartered nonpublic school to maintain student disciplinary records and to transmit a transfer student’s disciplinary record with the student’s school records upon request of the student’s new school.

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 445, sponsored by Reps. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Gary Click (R-Vickery). This legislation would require school districts to adopt a policy authorizing students to be excused from school to attend a released time course in religious instruction.

The committee heard proponent and opponent testimony on HB 432, sponsored by Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport), which would do the following:

  • Permit an applicant to apply for an initial career-technical workforce development educator license instead of only permitting an employing school district to apply on behalf of the applicant. 
  • Permit an applicant that has received an offer of employment to enroll in one of two alternative educator preparation programs in lieu of a career-technical workforce development educator preparation program offered by a higher education institution. 
  • Require the State Board of Education to issue a career-technical educator license to certain individuals who are already validly licensed educators.

OSBA and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) gave proponent testimony. The following individuals also provided proponent testimony on HB 432:

The committee heard opponent testimony on SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester), which would: 

  • Allow school districts to develop and use their own frameworks for teacher evaluation, instead of using a framework developed by the State Board of Education;
  • Clarify that a school district is not required to hold a separate, individual public hearing on a proposed school calendar, but that the calendar may be addressed as part of another public hearing or meeting;
  • Modify license or certificate qualifications for senior or lead professional educators, holders of professional administrator or alternative superintendent licenses, and nonteachers employed as teachers;
  • Eliminate seniority as a preference when making reductions in nonteaching staff positions; and
  • Clarify when non-licensed individuals working in a school must be entered into the RAPback system and that the RAPback provision will be overseen by the State Board of Education (SBOE).

For a full listing of the provisions included in this bill, please see the bill analysis.

Senate Education Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 250, sponsored by Reps. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville), which would revise the “military enlistment seal” and would rename it the “military seal.” The amendment adopted by the committee would:

  • Add vans to the list of vehicles that can be used in the transportation pilot program that was created in HB 33, the biennial budget;
  • Require each public school to adopt a policy governing the use of cell phones by students during school hours;
  • Require that districts make their cell phone usage policy publicly available and post it on their website; and
  • Require the Department of Education and Workforce to adopt a model cell phone policy that could be used by districts.

The committee continued hearing from districts about the programs they have implemented to overcome learning lags resulting from the pandemic and share their students’ progress. Individuals providing updates this week included:

The committee also heard proponent and opponent testimony on HB 8, sponsored by Reps. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton). This bill would enact the Parents Bill of Rights, requiring public schools to adopt a policy on parental notification regarding student health and well-being as well as any instructional materials with sexuality content. The committee adopted an amendment to the bill that does the following:

  • Require districts to adopt notification policies no later than 120 days after the bill’s effective date.
  • Require that districts receive consent from a parent or guardian prior to providing students with any physical, mental or behavioral health care.
  • Require disclosure of any health service or care a school seeks to provide that could be provided outside of school and require the school to notify parents whether it is required by state law.
  • Prohibit "sexuality content" from being taught in grades K-3.

Senate Transportation Committee
The Senate Transportation Committee heard proponent testimony on SB 179, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard). This bill would create the “Hilliard Davidson Wildcats” license plate.

House Higher Education Committee
The House Higher Education Committee met and heard sponsor testimony on HB 219 from Reps. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Sean Brennan (D-Parma). This legislation would revise and make changes to the college credit plus program.

House Behavioral Health Committee
The House Behavioral Health Committee met and heard proponent testimony on HB 352, sponsored by Reps. Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), that would establish the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Commission. The committee accepted an amendment that would add five additional members to the commission representing the Ohio School Psychologists Association, the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health and Family Services, the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, the Department of Medicaid and the Medicaid Managed Care Organization.

Senate Community Revitalization Committee
The Senate Community Revitalization Committee met and held a hearing on HB 50, sponsored by Reps. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati). This bill would create a mechanism by which an individual who is subject to a collateral sanction for housing may obtain a certificate of qualification for housing that may provide relief from certain bars on housing. The committee accepted an amendment to the bill that would:

  • Modify a property tax exemption for improvements to certain residential development property by requiring that property owners apply for the exemption with the county auditor, rather than the Tax Commissioner.
  • Remove provisions that require the board of education to be notified of an application for such an exemption and that allow a board to participate in any hearing on an application.
  • Prohibit the filing of property tax complaints by third parties challenging a residential development property exemption.

House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
The House Economic and Workforce Development Committee met and heard proponent testimony on HB 349, sponsored by Reps. Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Loramie) and Don Jones (R-Freeport). This bill would create several incentives for the development of natural gas pipelines and related infrastructure within locally designated EnergizeOhio zones. HB 349 would also modify the valuation formula for natural gas company personal property that is placed into service in an Energize Ohio zone, with the effect of reducing the property’s taxable value.

Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform 
The Joint Committee met and heard invited testimony focusing on property taxes from the perspective of education professionals. The committee heard testimony from the following individuals:

New Bills Introduced

  • HB 496, sponsored by Reps. James Hoops (R-Napoleon), to revise the law governing property taxes and county auditors.
  • HB 499, sponsored by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), to create grant programs for housing developments near megaprojects and for townships and municipalities that adopt pro-housing policy. The bill would also modify the community reinvestment area law relating to residential property and limit the ten percent nonbusiness property tax credit.
  • HB 506, sponsored by Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus), regarding school policies on the administration of overdose reversal drugs.
  • HB 507, sponsored by Rep. Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville), to extend legal safe harbor to political subdivisions that implement a specified cybersecurity program.
  • SB 248, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hackett (R-London), to create the “Blanchester Wildcats” license plate.
  • SB 249, sponsored by Sens. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), to provide grants to qualifying applicants for mortgage, property tax and utility bill assistance.

Rules Activity

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

  • 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 Scott Palider on 4/26/2024