The Senate unanimously passed House Bill (HB) 10, sponsored by Reps. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin). HB 10 would require public school boards of education and ODEW to adopt policies prohibiting the purchase of “cultivated-protein food” products or food “misbranded as a meat or egg product”. The bill now goes back to the House for a concurrence vote.
The House passed Senate Bill (SB) 50, sponsored by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), with a vote of 60-30. This bill would make changes regarding age and schooling certificate requirements as well as work hours for a person under sixteen years of age. The bill passed out of the House Commerce and Labor Committee earlier in the day and now goes to the governor for signature.
The chamber voted 88-3 to concur with the Senate amendments to HB 434, sponsored by Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) and Brian Lampton (R-Fairborn). This bill would exempt certain military-related limited term driver's license applicants from the driver's education requirements, expand the Drones for First Responders program and declare an emergency. The bill also includes several correction items from the biennial and capital budgets. The bill now goes to the governor for signature.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on House Continuing Resolution (HCR) 22 from Reps. Bill Roemer (R–Richfield) and Daniels. This resolution would encourage students in grades one through twelve to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the classroom during the 2025-2026 school year in celebration of its 250th anniversary.
The committee held its third hearing on SB 276, sponsored by Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), after accepting a corrective amendment. This bill would ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. The committee accepted interested party testimony on the bill before voting to pass it out of committee.
The committee held its sixth hearing on SB 19, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware). This bill 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 adopted two amendments at the request of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW), which would:
- Require districts to report math intervention curriculum in EMIS for grades K-5 rather than K-12;
- Harmonize the bill with current law that allows high dosage tutoring instruction to happen during the school day; and
- Align the bill with the algebra promotional provisions passed in HB 96 and clarify that students of community and STEM schools with similar test scores can similarly take advantage.
The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill before voting to pass it out of committee.
The committee held its second hearing on SB 290, sponsored by Sens. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) and Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). This bill would require public and chartered nonpublic schools to purchase and install an exterior secure master key box on each school building. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
SB 156, sponsored by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), received its first hearing. This bill would require school districts to provide “success sequence” instruction in at least one course required for high school graduation.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 455, sponsored by Reps. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Adam Bird (R-New Richmond). This bill would make changes to the operation of public schools and ODEW and eliminate obsolete provisions of education law. The committee accepted proponent testimony on the bill. The committee accepted an amendment removing provisions that would have eliminated the American history and American government end of course exams.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 486, sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Mike Dovilla (R-Berea). This bill would enact the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act to permit teachers in public schools and state institutions of higher education to provide instruction on the influence of Christianity on history and culture. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill, including from Jeff Greenly, superintendent, Belpre City and Lori Bloom, board member, Fremont City.
The committee held their second hearing on HB 500, sponsored by Reps. Ty D. Matthews (R-Findlay) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta). This bill would designate a JROTC program offered by a school district as a career-technical education program. The committee accepted written-only proponent testimony on the bill.
Senate Local Government Committee
On Tuesday, the committee held its third hearing on HB 129 sponsored by Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson). This bill would include certain property tax levies in the calculation of a school district's effective millage floor. The committee heard interested party testimony on the bill from BASA, OSBA and OASBO.
The committee also held its third hearing on HB 309, sponsored by Rep. Thomas. This bill allows county budget commissions (CBC) to reduce millage on certain voter-approved tax levies, excluding debt levies, if they find it necessary or prudent to do so. The committee accepted interested party testimony on the bill from BASA, OSBA and OASBO.
On Wednesday, the committee held its second hearing on HB 186, sponsored by Reps. James M. Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Thomas. HB 186 would cap tax growth for districts on the 20-mill floor to inflation through a retroactive tax credit and provide funds to reimburse school districts for some losses in 2026 and 2027. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee also held its second hearing on HB 335 from Rep. Thomas. This bill would cap the inflationary growth on all inside millage beginning in tax year 2026. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
Finally, the committee passed HB 124, sponsored by Reps. Thomas and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township). HB 124 would modify the process for property tax sales-assessment ratio studies.
The committee held its third hearing on HB 371, sponsored by Reps. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Thomas Young (R-Washington Township). This bill would make elected officials mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. The committee accepted an amendment that clarifies that when a prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney, while fulfilling their duties, receives a report of abuse or neglect from a children’s services agency or peace office they do not have to make their own report to a public children’s services agency or law enforcement.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 476, sponsored by Reps. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) and Thomas. This bill would authorize online raffles under the Charitable Gaming Law. The committee adopted a substitute version of the bill and accepted proponent testimony.
House Local Government Committee
HB 520, sponsored by Reps. Thomas and Matthews, received its first hearing. This bill would establish and convene a Blue Ribbon Committee in each county to review and assess each taxing unit within the county and each county program or department to identify duplication of services and generally to streamline and improve county efficiency and effectiveness.
The committee held its fourth hearing on HB 462, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville). This bill would permit the student use of a nasal epinephrine delivery device. The bill passed out of committee.
House Commerce and Labor Committee
HB 150, sponsored by Reps. Erika White (D-Springfield Township) and Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown), received its first hearing. This bill would enact the Clock Out Kids Act to require school employees to report certain minor labor law violations, increase penalties for certain minor labor law violations, create the Minor Labor Law Enforcement Fund and appropriate $150,000 to the fund.
The committee held its second hearing on HB 364 from Reps. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) and Young. This bill would require food service operations to denote certain allergens on their menus. The committee amended the bill to establish a high sodium warning icon to be displayed next to the name of any standard menu item with high sodium content at, specifically, chain food service operations. The committee also heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held its second hearing on HB 540, sponsored by Reps. Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) and Thomas, which would make changes to the law regarding conservation organizations with significant holdings of tax-exempt land. The committee accepted a substitute bill that removes language proposing a payment in lieu of taxes and instead limits, beginning for tax year 2026, the conservation organization property’s tax exemption such that only 97.5% of the land’s value is exempted from taxation. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
The committee held its third hearing on SB 250, sponsored by Sen. Reynolds. This bill would authorize a nonrefundable, transferable tax credit for charitable organizations that construct owner-occupied housing. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
Recently introduced bills
- HB 574 – Sponsored by Reps. Daniels (R-Akron) and Dovilla (R-Berea), this bill would create the Political Subdivision Consolidation Incentive Grant Pilot Program and make an appropriation.
- HB 575 – Sponsored by Reps. Thomas and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina), this bill would make various changes to the law governing the property taxation of farmland.
- SB 318 – Sponsored by Sen. Cutrona, this bill would authorize a law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services to a chartered nonpublic school.
Rules activity
ODEW has the following rules open for public comment:
- 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
Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment.
The State Board of Education has the following rule open for public comment:
- Chapter 3302-24-18: Resident educator license.
Click here to view the SBOE rules open for public comment.
The Department of Children and Youth has the following rules open for public comment:
- OAC 5180:2-16-01 --> OAC 5180:6-1-01 - Definitions for eligibility for publicly funded child care benefits.
- OAC 5180:2-16-03 --> OAC 5180:6-1-03 - Income eligibility requirements for publicly funded child care benefits.
- OAC 5180:2-16-04 --> OAC 5180:6-1-04 - Caretaker responsibilities to maintain eligibility in the publicly funded child care program
- OAC 5180:2-16-05 --> OAC 5180:6-1-05 - Copayment for publicly funded child care benefits
- OAC 5180:2-16-07 --> OAC 5180:6-1-07 - Caretaker improper payments or misuse of publicly funded child care benefits
- OAC 5180:2-16-08 --> OAC 5180:6-1-08 - County agency responsibilities for the administration and determination of eligibility for publicly funded child care
- OAC 5180:2-16-09 --> OAC 5180:6-1-09 - Provider responsibilities for publicly funded child care
- OAC 5180:2-16-11 --> OAC 5180:6-1-11 - Provider improper payments or misuse of publicly funded child care benefits
- OAC 5180:2-16-12 --> OAC 5180:6-1-12 - Publicly funded child care program integrity review
Click here to 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.