General Assembly’s spring break
The House and Senate concluded work this week on several bills before beginning their spring recess, which will extend through the May primary election. While the Senate is scheduled to briefly reconvene on April 15, most legislative activity will remain on hold until after the primaries. As a result, Facts in a Flash will be limited in the coming weeks, with regular editions resuming alongside the General Assembly’s return the week of May 11.
The lower chamber passed House Bill (HB) 203, sponsored by Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.), with a vote of 95-0. This bill would increase penalties and fines for vehicular assaults and vehicular homicides that occur in an active school zone and name this act “Aspen Runnels' Law.” The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The upper chamber passed Senate Bill (SB) 318, sponsored by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), with a vote of 32-0. SB 318 would authorize a law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services to a chartered nonpublic school. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
The committee held a series of first hearings on:
- SB 276, sponsored by Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists.
- HB 634, sponsored by Reps. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) and Mathew Kishman (R-Minerva), which makes changes to eligibility requirements to participate in interscholastic athletics.
- HB 711, sponsored by Reps. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta), which would change the minimum teacher salary schedule.
The committee amended SB 19, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware). SB 19 would require public schools to provide free, evidence-based intervention services to students displaying limited proficiency in mathematics, beginning with the 2025-26 school year. The accepted amendment (comp doc):
- Removes the mandated use of Math Improvement Monitoring Plans (MIMPS).
- Changes the requirement — from seventh to sixth grade — for students who achieve accomplished or advanced on the Math Ohio State Test to be enrolled in Algebra I in eighth grade.
- Requires the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to allow for the use of end-of-year nationally norm referenced assessments in lieu of standards-based assessments for federal and state accountability purposes.
The committee held its sixth 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 accepted written proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its fourth hearing on HB 674, sponsored by Rep. Kevin D. Miller (R-Newark). HB 674 would authorize a public or private school to transport students using a transportation network company. The committee heard opponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its second hearing on Senate Continuing Resolution (SCR) 16. Sponsored by Sen. Brenner, this resolution would urge Congress to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee adopted a substitute version of SB 326, sponsored by Sens. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) and Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati). SB 326 would require school districts to offer, and students to complete, at least one high school computer science course. The updated version of the bill makes the computer science course requirement a half unit, while still allowing a pathway for students who want a full-year course and exempts online schools from a provision in the bill requiring in-person courses. The committee heard opponent and interested party testimony on the bill, including from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.
The committee also adopted a substitute version of SB 328, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield). The bill would create the Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative, a middle school career-exploration course requirement with student academic and career plans. The updated version of the bill:
- Allows districts to meet the bill’s requirements through a career-exploration course or an ODEW-approved career-exploration plan with local partners.
- Changes the bill’s implementation date to the 2027-28 school year.
- Extends deadlines for the state to develop professional skills standards.
The committee amended and reported HB 462, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville). HB 462 would allow students to possess and use a nasal epinephrine delivery device in public and private schools in addition to an epinephrine autoinjector as already permitted under law. The amendment clarifies that nasal spray can be obtained and distributed by schools in the same fashion as an EpiPen and requires any other form of epinephrine to go through the Ohio Pharmacy Board for approval before it can be used in schools.
HB 485, sponsored by Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), received its second hearing. This bill would enact the Baby Olivia Act to include human growth and development instruction in grades five through 12. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Children and Human Services Committee
The committee adopted a substitute version of HB 647, sponsored by Reps. Young and Phil Plumber (R-Dayton). This bill would revise the law governing the publicly funded child care (PFCC) program. The updated version of the bill narrows the timeframe in which child care providers must retroactively verify a child’s attendance from 30 days to seven, transfers investigative authority of PFCC fraud to the inspector general and makes appropriation changes. The committee heard opponent and interested party testimony on the bill.
The committee also adopted a substitute version of HB 649, sponsored by Reps. Williams and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron). This “Child Care Fraud Prevention Act” would require the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) to establish standards and procedures for recording and verifying PFCC center attendance and require investigations of waste, fraud and abuse allegations relating to providers of PFCC. The updated version of the bill:
- Expands the bill’s application to all PFCC providers (child care centers, licensed family child care homes, in-home aides, child day camps, licensed preschool programs and licensed school child programs), not only PFCC providers that are child care centers.
- Requires DCY to only use the video capabilities from the camera system contained in the electronic tablet that DCY provides participating PFCC providers.
- Prohibits DCY from storing and capturing any photograph or video does not apply to those stored or captured before the bill's enactment.
- Requires PFCC providers to collect a child's data points as necessary to confirm the child’s attendance no later than one hour after the child's initial arrival for the day has been recorded. Specifies that data points collected under the bill are not public records.
The committee heard opponent and interested party testimony on the bill.
House Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee
The committee adopted a substitute version of HB 687, sponsored by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). HB 687 originally expanded AED training and staffing mandates to private athletic facilities, but the substitute bill makes several changes to emergency action plans and AED placement in schools. The bill’s changes:
- Permit school governing authorities to adopt an AED emergency action plan based on standards set by nationally recognized organizations.
- Requires the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) model emergency action plan for AED use to specify school-related locations — such as athletic facilities and gymnasiums, playing fields or other school sports locations — that require AED placement (in addition to schools as required under continuing law).
- Requires an AED emergency action plan adopted by a school governing authority or controlling authority of a sports and recreation location to be reviewed and evaluated at least annually.
The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 693, sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Williams. This bill would enact the “Affirming Families First Act” and protect the right to affirm a minor child's sex. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 561, sponsored by Reps. M. Miller and Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana). This bill, named the Parental Clarity on Health Options and Information on Conscientious Exemptions or “C.H.O.I.C.E. Act,” would revise the law governing childhood immunizations for public and chartered nonpublic schools, preschool programs and child care providers. The committee heard opponent testimony on the bill, including from Jennifer Fuller, board member at New Albany Plains Local (Franklin).
House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee
The committee held its first hearing on 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.
The committee reported SB 320. Sponsored by Rep. Roegner, this bill would enter Ohio into the Athletic Trainer Compact. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended HB 391, sponsored by Reps. Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin) and Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown), which would require tax rates to be expressed as a percentage of true value in addition to mills on tax bills, election notices and ballot language. The amendment changes the election notices and ballot language to use the term "county's market value" rather than the "county auditor's market value.”
The committee held its first hearing on HB 737, sponsored by Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Hall. This bill would require that cash payments to state and local governments be rounded to the nearest nickel.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held its second hearing on SB 307, sponsored by Sen. Jane Timken (R-Jackson Township). This bill would specifically allow payments made in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) under tax increment financing (TIF) arrangements to be used for police and fire buildings.
Recently introduced legislation
- HB 775 - Sponsored by Reps. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and Dovilla, this bill would make changes to state agencies' general authority to adopt administrative rules and to amend the version of section 3313.902 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, to continue the change on and after that date.
- HB 778 - Sponsored by Reps. K. Miller and David Thomas (R-Jefferson), this bill would exclude certain fire and emergency medical services levies from being reduced by a community reinvestment area or tax increment financing property tax exemption.
Rules activity
ODEW has the following rules open for public comment:
- Chapter 3301-3: Data Acquisition Sites
- OAC 3301-3-01: Scope and definitions.
- OAC 3301-3-02: Qualifications for information technology centers and user entities.
- OAC 3301-3-03: Information technology center permit eligibility and application.
- OAC 3301-3-04: Information technology center permit validity and revocation (proposed rescission).
- OAC 3301-3-05: Responsibilities of the department.
- OAC 3301-3-06: Responsibilities of an information technology center and a user entity.
- OAC 3301-3-07: Performance standards.
- 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.
- Chapter 3301-83: Pupil Transportation
- OAC 3301-83-01: Calculation of pupil transportation operation payments.
- OAC 3301-83-06: Personnel qualifications.
- OAC 3301-83-08: Pupil transportation management policies.
- OAC 3301-83-10: Personnel training program.
- OAC 3301-83-11: School bus and motor van inspections.
- OAC 3301-83-12: Safety procedures.
- OAC 3301-83-17: Authorized and unauthorized passengers.
- OAC 3301-83-19: Authorized vehicles for transportation of pupils to and from school and school-related events.
- OAC 3301-83-20: General rules.
View the ODEW rules open for public comment.
The State Board of Education (SBOE) has the following rules open for public comment:
- Chapter 3302-24: Licensing and education programs
- OAC 3302-24-01: Glossary/definitions
- OAC 3302-24-04: Teacher residency
- OAC 3302-24-11: Alternative principal license
- OAC 3302-24-19: Alternative resident educator licenses for teaching in grades kindergarten to 12 OAC 3302-24-23: Resident educator license renewal and extension
- OAC 3302-24-24: Alternative resident educator license renewal and extension
View the SBOE rules open for public comment.
DCY has the following rules open for public comment:
- Five-Year Review and Renumber of School-Based School Age Program Rules
- (New) 5180:2-19-01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, and 10
- (Rescind) 5180-32-01, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, and 11
- Five-Year Review and Renumber of School-Based Preschool Program Rules
- (New) 5180:2-20-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12
- (Rescind) 5180-37-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, and 12
View the DCY rules open for public comment.
Federal update
Please click here to read the most recent Federal Advocacy Report, which includes up-to-date information on federal education efforts. Click here to read the most recent Federal Court Report.