Senate Education Committee
The committee amended House Bill (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 committee adopted two amendments. The first requires Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services to consult with the Department of Children and Youth for preschool children who are blind or visually impaired. The second clarifies that teachers who are teaching outside of their licensure grade band, as allowed under current law, will count as being properly certified and licensed and highly qualified as it is reported on the state report card.

The committee held a third hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 208, sponsored by Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would require a city, exempted village or local school district to include in its open enrollment policy an exception for military children. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.

The committee amended SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem), which would require school buildings to comply with national life safety standards and names this act the Ohio Childhood Safety Act. The amendment requires that all protective doors comply with the standards in place at the time of their instillation instead of 2015 NFPA standards. The amendment also requires serious safety hazards discovered during an inspection be addressed within 180 days or a penalty will be imposed. Lastly, the amendment directs the Board of Building Standards and the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules to implement the requirements in SB 112.   

The committee also held a third hearing on HB 147, sponsored by Reps. Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Rock Creek) and Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus), which would make changes to teacher licensure revocation, teacher hiring practices and conduct unbecoming the teaching profession. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.

The committee heard sponsor testimony on SB 219, sponsored by Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati), which would restore the preK-5 grades 4-9 and grades 7-12 educator licensure grade bands altered in HB 33, the biennial budget. 

The committee also amended 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 on the harmful effects of and legal restrictions against drug abuse, alcoholic beverages, marijuana and tobacco in schools. The amendment allows local boards of education to provide annual developmentally appropriate instruction described in the bill in a manner the board deems appropriate rather than in the existing health education curriculum as required under current law. The intent of this amendment is to allow for education of students in lower grades that are not receiving health instruction. 

House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 349, sponsored by Reps. Don Jones (R-Freeport) and Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Loramie), which would authorize the creation of areas within which incentives are available to encourage the development of natural gas pipelines and other infrastructure and to make an appropriation.

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

New Bills Introduced

  • HB 491, sponsored by Reps. Tom Young (R-Dayton) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina), which would require a political subdivision or state retirement system to provide information on expenditures to the Treasurer of State for inclusion in the Ohio State and Local Government Expenditure Database.
  • SB 242, sponsored by Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Rome), which would expand the charitable use property tax exemption.
  • SB 243, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), which would declare the General Assembly's intent to enact legislation addressing local zoning regulations that impede the development of housing in this state.
  • SB 244, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), which would authorize local governments to create residential stability zones where homeowners may qualify for a partial property tax exemption.
  • SB 245, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), which would revise the law governing eviction, real estate representation agreements, residential building code enforcement, and real property transfers. 
  • SB 246, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), which would rename the Department of Development the Department of Housing and Development and to otherwise modify the law related to housing.  

Department of Education and Workforce (DEW)

DEW has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

New rules open for comment:

  • The Department of Education and Workforce intends to initiate rulemaking regarding the standards for virtual services from registered private providers in the Autism and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program. The deadline for comments is April 19, 2024. 

Draft 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
  • OAC Chapter 13 Proficiency Tests
    • AC 3301-13-11 Identification, instruction, assessment, and reclassification of English learners

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 4/19/2024