Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 17 by a vote of 32-0. The bill allows an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty. The bill will now be sent to the governor.
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 16 by a vote of 31-1. The bill, which…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 606. The bill prohibits bringing a civil action for damages for injury, death or loss to person or property against businesses, the state, local governments and schools, among others, if the cause is due to exposure to COVID-19. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.
Additionally, DeWine signed HB 272. The bill expands court jurisdiction; prohibits a public official from changing the time, place or manner…
Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) announced the 2020 Ohio School Report Cards are expected to be released on Sept. 15. The report cards will not have grades or ratings due to provisions in House Bill 197. Click here to read the Report Card FAQ and click here for the ODE document showing the data that will be…
Governor activity
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Interim Director Lance D. Himes signed an executive order that requires K-12 schools to notify parents, guardians and the public of a positive COVID-19 case within a school building. Click here for a link to the signed order.
General Assembly activity
The General Assembly sent House Bill (HB) 606 to Gov. Mike DeWine for his approval…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that K-12 schools will be required to notify parents, guardians and the public of a positive COVID-19 case within a school building. Protected health information must remain private and only non-identifying information should be made available to the public. Schools will have the flexibility to determine how to communicate the information. The order is forthcoming and a link will be provided when available.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that the order allowing both contact and non-contact sports has been modified. The…
Governor activity
Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance D. Himes signed an executive order that allows both contact and non-contact sports to continue. The order provides health, safety and spectator requirements. Click here for a link to the signed order.
Secretary of state
Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that he submitted a request to the state Controlling Board to approve $3 million to pay for…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order that requires K-12 students who return to school buildings to wear masks. Click here for a link to the signed order.
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education passed a resolution by a vote of 16-2 at a special meeting to update administrative rules that pertain to preschools and child care programs. The need to update rules came from Gov. Mike DeWine signing an…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that K-12 students who return to school buildings are required to wear masks. The order includes exceptions for students who are unable to remove the mask without assistance, have a facial deformity that causes airway obstruction or have certain behavioral, psychological or developmental conditions, among others. A link to the order is forthcoming.
Additionally, DeWine announced that ESCs have received 2 million masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for schools. The masks are for students, teachers and…
House activity
The House of Representatives passed a motion to select Rep. Robert R. Cupp (R-Lima) as speaker of the House by a vote of 55-38. This followed the motion to vacate the office of speaker by a vote of 91-0 that occurred earlier in the session.
Controlling Board
The Ohio Controlling Board approved a request to use $50 million from the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund …
Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 123 by a vote of 31-0. The bill requires public schools to implement certain programs on and provide instruction in suicide awareness and prevention and violence prevention and provides $2.5 million in payments to dropout prevention and recovery e-schools that are not operated by a for-profit entity and that received an “exceeds standards” rating on their most…
