Budget Testimony Opportunity
The Senate Finance committee will hear public testimony on all provisions of the state budget on May 27, May 28, May 29 and May 30. Each hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Finance Hearing Room and is scheduled to run throughout the day. These are open testimony hearings, meaning testimony can be submitted on any aspect of the budget bill — there is no specific day dedicated to education funding or policy provisions.
As a reminder, if you plan to testify in person for the Finance committee between May 27 and May 30, you must submit your testimony through their website before 5:00 pm today, Friday, May 23. Any testimony submitted after this will be considered written only.
Due to the amount of public testimony the committee is expected to receive, a three-minute limit will be instituted for in-person remarks. Please be prepared to give your testimony within that time limit.
The work you've already done -- sharing your district's story with staff, your community and legislators -- can serve as a strong foundation for your testimony. Simply highlighting how proposed changes impact your students and schools is powerful and should be a part of the conversation as the Senate considers the biennial budget.
The House passed HB 114, sponsored by Reps. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta), with a vote of 93-0. This bill would alter the age requirements for kindergarten admission. HB 114 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 117, sponsored by Reps. Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville) and Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma), which would require the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill, including Jermaine Ferguson, Marysville EV and Jeffery Ritz, superintendent, Williard City.
The committee also held a second hearing on HB 155 sponsored by Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township). This bill would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion in public schools. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill, including from Rose Ioppolo and Annie Payne, Mentor City and Tom Hach, ESC of the Western Reserve.
Finally, the committee held its fourth hearing on HB 145, sponsored by Rep. Bird. This bill would raise the minimum number of school hours. The committee heard interested party testimony from Dr. Paul Imhoff, BASA and Malania Birney, OSBA.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on the amended HB 3 from Reps. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati). The “School Bus Safety Act,” would create a School Bus Safety Grant Fund at ODEW 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.”
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 106 from Reps. Angela N. King (R-Celina) and Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) and also amended the bill. This bill is the House’s version of Alyssa’s Law and would allocate $25 million to a pilot grant program at ODEW for public and chartered nonpublic schools to purchase panic alert systems or contract for artificial intelligence firearm detection software. The amendment changes the name of the bill to the “Secure our Schools”, or SOS, Act and decreases the appropriation to $12 million.
The committee also heard sponsor testimony on HB 298 from Reps. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and Marilyn John (R-Shelby). The bill would authorize the Ohio Casino Control Commission (CAC) to regulate internet gambling, impose a 28% tax on internet gambling receipts and prohibit any person from conducting online sweepstakes games in Ohio.
House Government Oversight Committee
The committee amended HB 42 sponsored by Reps. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) and Williams. This bill would require certain agencies, including the Department of Education and Workforce, to collect and report data concerning the citizenship or immigration status of persons with whom they come into contact. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The amendment changes the requirement for law enforcement agencies to collect and maintain citizenship and immigration status for persons in detention to persons arrested.
House General Government Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 264 from by Reps. Fischer and Adam Matthews (R-Lebanon). This bill would prohibit certain government publications concerning candidates or ballot issues during the 30 days before an election.
The committee also heard proponent testimony on HB 248 from the auditor of state’s office. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), makes changes to the office's responsibilities. The witness clarified that this is the result of an internal auditing process to remove from law dated provisions that are no longer applicable to the auditor of state’s work.
The committee held a third hearing on HB 17, sponsored by Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell). The bill would classify certain storage condominiums as residential property for tax purposes. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 142 sponsored by Reps. Micheal D. Dovilla (R-Berea) and Fischer. This House companion bill to SB 103 would allow for alternative rate plans for natural gas companies to serve large load customers and make changes to the process of valuating natural gas company property. The committee heard opponent testimony on the bill.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended HB 22, sponsored by Reps. Lorenz and Thomas. This bill would authorize a full homestead exemption for surviving spouses of members of the uniformed services killed in the line of duty. The amendment explicitly allows a surviving spouse to maintain the exemption through the year of their death regardless of whether the surviving spouse remarries or cohabitates with an unrelated individual.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 89 from Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). This bill would authorize a temporary property tax reduction to eligible properties in tax year 2024 by the difference in taxes owed in 2022.
The committee also heard testimony on HB 156 sponsored by Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) and Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati). This bill would authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes.
Finally, the committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 209 from Rep. Lorenz. This bill would exempt tips from state, municipal and school district income taxes.
Recently introduced bills
- HB 283 – Sponsored by Reps. Matthew and Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg), this House companion bill to SB 203 would require political subdivisions to adopt a cybersecurity program.
- HB 286 – Sponsored by Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Isaacsohn, this bill would restrict the purposes for which the tax revenue from any legal internet gaming could be used for funding to school districts, publicly funded child care and programs to address problem gaming.
- HB 294 - Sponsored by Reps. Ty D. Matthews (R-Ashville) and Ritter, this bill makes changes to school district intradistrict open enrollment policies.
- HB 298 - Sponsored by Reps. Stewart and John, this bill is the House’s version of SB 197, to legalize and regulate internet gambling in Ohio.
- SB 206 – Sponsored by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), this will authorize a property tax reduction for applicable (65-years and older) owner-occupied homes.
Rules activity
The Department of Education and Workforce has the following draft rules open for public comment:
- Chapter 3301-101: Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program
- OAC 3301-101-01: Definitions
- OAC 3301-101-02: Jon Peterson special needs scholarship program established
- OAC 3301-101-03: Eligibility to receive a scholarship
- OAC 3301-101-04: Application for a scholarship
- OAC 3301-101-06: Awarding scholarships
- OAC 3301-101-07: Transfer of scholarship
- OAC 3301-101-08: Termination of eligibility
- OAC 3301-101-09: Participation by providers
- OAC 3301-101-10: Payment of scholarship amounts
- OAC 3301-101-11: Entities designated to file applications
- OAC 3301-101-12: Dispute resolution and due process requests
- OAC 3301-101-13: Program administration
- Chapter 3301-103: Autism Scholarship Program
- OAC 3301-103-01: Definitions
- OAC 3301-103-02: Autism scholarship program established
- OAC 3301-103-03: Procedures and deadlines for parents to apply for scholarship
- OAC 3301-103-04: Responsibilities of a school district of residence
- OAC 3301-103-05: Program participation
- OAC 3301-103-06: Application and participation of providers
- OAC 3301-103-07: Payment under the autism scholarship program
Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment.
The State Board of Education has the following rules open for public comment:
- Chapter 3302-20-03: Employment of non-licensed individuals with certain criminal convictions
- Chapter 3302-83-23: Employment of school bus and van drivers with certain criminal convictions
Click here to view the SBOE 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.