This issue of Facts in a Flash reviews legislative activity from the first week of December, marking “the beginning of the end” of lame duck. Now, the Ohio General Assembly has just two weeks left to get their priority legislation to Governor DeWine’s desk before the holidays.
The Senate passed HB 78 with a vote of 29-0. This bill was sponsored by Reps. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Joe Miller (D-Amherst). The bill would make retired teachers who are reemployed in positions covered by the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) eligible to seek election to the STRS Board. HB 78 also includes student teachers who hold a pre-service permit and are substitute teachers as STRS members. HB 78 returns to the House for consideration of the Senate’s amendments (see House Activity below).
The Senate also passed HB 432, with a vote of 28-0, enacting the emergency clause in the bill with a vote of 26-2. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) and will make changes regarding alternate credentialing pathways for career-technical educators as well as make harmonizing amendments to the already enacted SB 29, SB 168 and STEM Program of Excellence (see Senate Education Committee for more detail). The bill is returned to the House for consideration of the Senate’s amendments (see House Activity below).
The House passed HB 206 by a vote of 68-15. This bill was sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana). The bill would make changes regarding the expulsion of a student from a public school for actions that endanger the health and safety of other students or school employees. HB 206 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
The House also passed SB 154 by a vote of 84-0. This bill was sponsored by Sen. Kristina D. Roegner (R-Hudson). The bill would include Space Force in the definition of the armed forces, armed services and uniformed services of the United States. The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.
The House concurred on the Senate amendments to HB 432 by a vote of 83-0. The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.
The House concurred on the Senate amendments to HB 78 by a vote of 84-0. The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.
The committee heard a presentation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) on the report card’s college, career, workforce, and military readiness measure.
The committee held its fifth hearing on HB 432, sponsored by Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport). This bill would make changes regarding alternate credentialing pathways for career-technical educators. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee accepted amendments before passing the bill that would:
- Amend the implementation of SB 29, enacted this past summer, which now:
- Clarifies that the State Board of Education may take licensure action against an individual who purposely uses or intentionally releases confidential student information for purposes other than student instruction when that release violates the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators.
- Changes references to "educational records" to "education records" to align with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
- Removes from the definition that a school-issued device be for a student's "dedicated personal use" and instead requires that the device be for "dedicated student use."
- Excludes applicants and formerly enrolled students from the definition of "student." Except for a contract that affects student education records for which a school district must provide notice, excludes from the definition of "technology provider" any county board of developmental disabilities; educational service center; information technology center; assessment provider; curriculum provider; or other city, local, exempted village or joint vocational school district that has a service contract with a school district that includes providing students with school issued devices.
- With respect to exceptions from the prohibition against electronic access of school-issued devices, makes the following changes: (1) Removes the advance notice requirement for access related to an educational purpose; (2) Permits access subject to a subpoena.
- Limits the 72-hour parental notice of electronic access to one of the following: (1) The access is under judicial warrant or subpoena or related to a missing or stolen device, and the school district initiates responsive action. (2) The access is to prevent or respond to a threat to life or safety, and the school district initiates action in response to a warrant, subpoena, or theft; due to suspected child abuse or neglect; or related to suspension or expulsion, harassment, intimidation or bullying; or for a threat assessment.
- Removes the requirement to give notice 72 hours after a threat to life or safety has ceased when the notice itself would pose a threat to life or safety.
- Requires that a service contract between a school district and a county board of developmental disabilities, educational service center, joint vocational school district, another school district, or an information technology center indicate which contracting party is responsible for providing parental notice of access.
- Make harmonizing amendments on the implementation of SB168, enacted this past summer, which now:
- Conforms existing code with grade band changes made in the bill.,
- Requires the Director of Education and Workforce, instead of the State Superintendent, to provide public schools with a non-exhaustive list of major religious holidays or festivals for which a student may receive an excused absence for a religious expression day.
- Make changes to the STEM Program of Excellence, as requested by ODEW, to:
- Require a STEM Program of Excellence to serve all students for whom the program is designed, which may be limited to certain categories of students, rather than serve all students in the grade for which the program is designed or only gifted students.
- Maintain the requirement that a STEM Program of Excellence's curriculum emphasize design thinking but eliminate the requirement that it be a "school-wide approach."
The committee approved Gov. Mike DeWine’s appointment of Amy Fugate to the State Board of Education.
The committee held its second hearing on SB 295, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware). This placeholder bill declares the General Assembly's intent to revise the closure requirements for poor-performing community schools and school buildings operated by a school district. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill, establishing more specific bill language (to be posted by the state at the hyperlink above in the coming days).
The committee held its second hearing on SB 304 sponsored by Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario). This bill would establish the Non chartered Educational Savings Account Program to provide eligible students with an educational savings account beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
A second hearing on SB 311 was also held. SB 311, sponsored by Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Rome), would allow students to receive an EdChoice voucher and either an Autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarship in the same year. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee heard a presentation from ODEW on the report card’s college, career, workforce and military readiness measure.
The committee held its fifth hearing on HB 407, sponsored by Reps. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati). This legislation would require private schools that accept vouchers to meet certain accountability measures. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill and passed the bill out of committee.
The committee held its third hearing on SB 208, sponsored by Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson). This bill would require school districts to include an exception for children of active duty military personnel in their open enrollment policies. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
The committee held its first hearing on HB 623 and heard sponsor testimony from Reps. Dave Dobos (R-Columbus) and Don Jones (R-Freeport). The bill would require school districts to offer at least one high school computer science course by the 2026-2027 school year and requires computer science for graduation beginning with the class of 2032. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill, accepting feedback on the proposal from DEW, OSBA, the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools and the Ohio Education Association.
The committee held a first hearing on HB 657 which would enact the “Transparency in Pledge of Allegiance Act.” The committee heard sponsor testimony from Reps. Gail K. Pavliga (R-Atwater) and Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville).
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 591 from Reps. Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma) and Rachel B. Baker (D-Cincinnati). The bill would enact the “Charter School Sponsor and Operator Rating Act.”
The committee held a first hearing on HB 592 with Reps. Beryl Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Darnell T. Brewer (D-Cleveland) offered sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “School Rating Enhancement Act.”
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 574 from Reps. Phillip M. Robinson, Jr. (D-Solon) and Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland). This bill would allow employees of a board of education to use sick leave for parental leave.
The committee held a first hearing on HB 575 with Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Robinson offering sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “Private School Accountability Act.”
A first hearing was held on HB 581 with Reps. Isaacsohn and Piccolantonio offering sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “Charter School Oversight Act.”
The committee held a first hearing on HB 567 with Reps. Robinson and Brennan offering sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “EdChoice Fair Fiscal Responsibility Act.”
A first hearing was held on HB 582 with Reps. Piccolantonio and Robinson offering sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “School Busing Improvement Act.”
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held its third hearing on HB 496, sponsored by Rep. James A. Hoops (R-Napoleon). This bill would revise the law governing property taxes and county auditors. No witnesses were present to testify.
Senate Veterans and Public Safety
The committee held its second hearing on SB 329, sponsored by Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green). This “School Bus Safety Act” would authorize a civil penalty system directed toward drivers who illegally pass a school bus but cannot be identified and designate the month of August as "School Bus Safety Awareness Month”. Testifying in support of the bill was Dr. Paul Imhoff, director of governmental relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA).
Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 247, sponsored by Sen. George F. Lang (R-West Chester). The bill would establish the community solar pilot program.
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 279, sponsored by Reps. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) and Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester). This bill would appropriate $25 million to create a School Bus Safety Grant Fund at the Department of Education and Workforce to assist districts with the cost of installing safety features on new and existing school buses. The bill would also increase the penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus and designate August as “School Bus Safety Month”. Testifying in support of the bill was Dr. Paul Imhoff, director of governmental relations, Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA).
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 595, sponsored by Rep. Phillip M. Robinson Jr. (D-Solon), which 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.
House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 596 from Rep. Phillip M. Robinson (D-Solon). This bill would require a municipal corporation to obtain the approval of an affected school district before designating a tax increment financing (TIF) property tax exemption that applies throughout an incentive district, regardless of the amount or term of the TIF.
House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 541, sponsored by Rep. Richard Dell’Aquila (D-Seven Hills) and Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown). This bill would require a school employee to report to the school’s principal or a designee when the employee is aware or has a reasonable suspicion a student under age 16 is employed in a manner that violates continuing law. It would also increase penalties for certain minor labor law violations and create the Minor Labor Law Enforcement Fund.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 186, sponsored by Sens. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township) and Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati). The bill 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.
The committee also held sponsor testimony on HB 645, sponsored by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceed five per cent of their income.
The committee held a second hearing on HB 579, sponsored by Reps. Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma) and Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison). This bill would allow a township to levy property taxes to provide school resource officer services for school districts located within their territory. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held a first hearing on HB 518 with Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) offering sponsor testimony. The bill would enact the “School Bus Safety Act.”
House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 556, sponsored by Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), which would permit schools to withhold and remove directory information from the public record definition.
House Technology & Innovation Committee
The committee held their fourth hearing on HB 507, sponsored by Rep. Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville). The bill would extend legal safe harbor to political subdivisions that implement a specified cybersecurity program. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee unanimously passed the bill.
House Homeland Security Committee
The committee held its second hearing on HB 515, sponsored by Rep. Bill Roemer (R- Richfield). This bill would create the “Norton Music Boosters” license plate. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee unanimously passed the bill.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 542, sponsored by Reps. Bill Dean (R-Xenia) and P. Scott Lipps (R- Franklin). This bill would create the "Blanchester Wildcats" license plate. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee unanimously passed the bill.
House State and Local Government Committee
The committee held its second hearing on SB 44, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware). This bill would require a state occupational licensing agency to accept electronic license applications. The committee read written proponent testimony on the bill.
Rules Activity
The Department of Education and Workforce and the State Board of Education have no rules open for public comment at this time.
Federal Update
Please click here to read the most recent Federal Advocacy Report from COSSBA, which includes up-to-date information on federal education efforts.