Senate Activity
The Senate is preparing to drop its version of House Bill (HB) 33 on June 6, 2023. Please continue reaching out to your legislators as we advocate for a full phase in of the Fair School Funding Plan and to keep the House’s updates to the base cost inputs with FY 2022 data in the bill.

Senate Education
The committee heard sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 112, sponsored by Sen. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem), which requires school buildings to comply with national life safety standards and names this act the Ohio Childhood Safety Act.

On May 15, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) released an updated guidance document on districts’ obligations related to school prayer and religious expression at school by students and school employees.

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 83, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), which would enact the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education, by a vote of 21-10. The bill now heads to the House.

Ohio is a compulsory attendance state with laws governing how districts should work with students and families to improve attendance. School attendance and engagement in learning are critical to success in school. Attendance and absentee prevention laws had a major overhaul a few years ago in the General Assembly and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) continues to provide resources to school district leaders about how to comply with those laws and encourage attendance.

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 6, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), by a 26-7 vote. The bill would prohibit the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) and School Employment Retirement System (SERS), among others, from making investment decisions for the primary purpose of influencing environmental, social and corporate governance policies. The bill now moves to the Ohio House.