The chamber passed House Bill (HB) 500, sponsored by Reps. Ty D. Matthews (R-Findlay) and Kevin Ritter (R- Marietta) with a vote of 91-0. This bill would designate a JROTC program offered by a school district as a career-technical education program. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 30 from Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) and Andrea White (R-Kettering). HCR 30 would honor the 50th anniversary of the original enactment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and urge the U.S. Congress to enact the IDEA Full Funding Act.
The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 674 from Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark). HB 674 would authorize a public or private school to transport students using a transportation network company.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 661. Sponsored by Reps. Adam Bird (R- New Richmond) and Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.), this bill would prohibit a middle or high school athlete from earning compensation from the athlete's name, image or likeness. The committee heard opponent testimony on the bill.
Senate Bill (SB) 19, by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), received its second hearing. SB 19 would require districts and schools to develop a mathematics improvement and monitoring plan for each student who qualifies for math intervention services, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its fourth hearing on HB 125, sponsored by Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) and Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria). This bill would permit excused absences from school to participate in 4-H and FFA programs. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
HB 523, by Reps. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), received its second hearing. HB 523 would enact the Future Educators Support Act regarding financial support for student teachers and teaching as an in-demand job. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Children and Human Services Committee
The committee held its second hearing on HB 647, sponsored by Reps. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.). This bill would revise the law governing the publicly funded childcare program. The committee accepted proponent testimony on the bill including a presentation from Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente.
House Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee
The committee held its first hearing on HB 697 with Rep. Mark Hiner (R-Howard) providing sponsor testimony. This bill makes changes to the law concerning broadcasts of middle and high school post-season interscholastic athletic contests.
House General Government Committee
The committee held its first hearing on HB 609 and heard sponsor testimony from Reps. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Meredith Craig (R-Smithville). This bill would require a public body to allow for public commentary and testimony before taking formal action on any item. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill that, among other things, clarifies that one period of public testimony is required per meeting and prohibits public bodies from charging a fee to receive advance notice of meetings via email.
House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee
The committee held its fourth hearing on HB 473, sponsored by Rep. Thomas. This bill would prohibit a public employer from paying employee contributions to a state retirement system. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill from Harlan S. Waid, Jr., board president, Ashtabula County Educational Service Center.
The committee passed HB 437, sponsored by Reps. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland), which would alter existing requirements regarding youth cardiac monitoring.
The committee also heard a presentation from Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, which provided an agency update on FY26-27 state budget investments including the OhioSEE program and the ongoing expansion of school-based health clinics.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 314, sponsored by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Shannon Ray (R-Wadsworth). This bill would restrict harassing or disruptive public records requests and permit private contractors to respond to voluminous public records requests. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Ways and Means Committee
HB 273 received sponsor testimony from Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill). This bill would modify the computation of the owner-occupancy property tax rollback and the applicability of the nonbusiness property tax rollback.
Rep. Stephens also provided sponsor testimony on HB 673. This bill would expand the statewide owner-occupied residence property tax credit to all tax levies.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 504, sponsored by Rep. Angela N. King (R-Celina). This bill would authorize counties to temporarily exempt a portion of a property's increased value from taxation following a reappraisal and name this act the Calculated Adjustments for Property Surges (CAPS) Act. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 364 sponsored by Reps. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) and Young. The bill would require food service operations to denote certain allergens on their menus. The committee heard opponent testimony on the bill.
Recently introduced legislation
- HB 707 – Sponsored by Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) and Darnell T. Brewer (D-Cleveland), “Kei’Mani’s Law” would make changes to the law regarding the uniform statewide automated child welfare information system and require public schools to appoint a child protection liaison.
- HB 711 – Sponsored by Reps. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta), this bill would change the minimum teacher salary schedule.
- HB 715 – Sponsored by Reps. Manning and Odioso, this bill would make changes to chartered nonpublic schools’ EdChoice scholarship reporting.
- HB 719 – Sponsored by Rep. James Hoops (R-Napoleon), this bill would amend Section 733.90 of HB 96 of the 136th General Assembly regarding the State Teachers Retirement Board.
- House Joint Resolution (HJR) 7 – Sponsored by Rep. Hiner, this proposal would amend Section 2 of Article XII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to, beginning in 2027, exempt owner-occupied residences from property tax and to modify the manner and mode of property taxation.
Rules activity
The Department of Education and Workforce has the following rules open for public comment:
- Chapter 3301-28: Local Report Card
- OAC 3301-28-07: Early literacy component and measures
- OAC 3301-28-10: Ratings for schools and districts
- Appendix A to OAC 3301-28-10
Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment.
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has the following rule packages open for public comment:
- Five-Year Review and Renumber of School-Based Preschool Program Rules
- (New) Chapter 5180: 2-20-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12
- (Rescind) Chapter 5180-37-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12
- Five-Year Review and Renumber of School-Based School Age Program Rules
- (New) Chapter 5180:2-19-01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, and 10
- (Rescind) Chapter: 5180-32-01, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, and 11
The following DCY Monitoring & Compliance Field Guides have been posted for public comment:
- Early Care & Education Family Child Care
- Early Care & Education School-Based Preschool
- Early Care & Education Child Care Center
- Early Care & Education School-Based School-Age Program
Click here to view the DCY rules and field guides open for public comment.
The State Board of Education does not have any rules open for public comment at this time.
DCY ECE grant webinars
The Department of Children and Youth will be hosting webinars for Early Childhood Education (ECE) grantees on the family application processes for the 2026-27 school year. The webinars will be held for school-based providers on March 11, 2026 at 1:00 pm and March 17, 2026 at 9:00 am. Grantees can register for these webinars by emailing EarlyChildhoodEducation@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.
Federal update
Please click here to read the most recent Federal Advocacy Report, which includes up-to-date information on federal education efforts.