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Senate Activity
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill (SB) 44, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Powell). The bill would require a state occupational licensing agency to accept electronic license applications.

Senate Finance
The committee accepted a substitute version of …

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Senate Activity
The Senate is preparing to drop its version of House Bill (HB) 33 on June 6, 2023. Please continue reaching out to your legislators as we advocate for a full phase in of the Fair School Funding Plan and to keep the House’s updates to the base cost inputs with FY 2022 data in the bill.

Senate Finance
The committee held its seventh hearing on…

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Senate Education
The committee heard sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 112, sponsored by Sen. Michael A. Rulli (R-Salem), which requires school buildings to comply with national life safety standards and names this act the Ohio Childhood Safety Act.

The committee also heard sponsor testimony on SB 99, sponsored by Sen. Catherine D.…

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Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 83, sponsored by Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), which would enact the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education, by a vote of 21-10. The bill now heads to the House.

Senate Finance
The committee held its third hearing on…

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Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 6, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), by a 26-7 vote. The bill would prohibit the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) and School Employment Retirement System (SERS), among others, from making investment decisions for the primary purpose of influencing environmental, social and corporate governance policies. The bill now moves to the Ohio House.

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Next week’s testimony opportunities
The Senate Education Committee will be holding hearings for public testimony on HB 33, the biennial budget, next week on Tuesday, May 9 at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 11 at 11 a.m. if needed. They will be accepting proponent, opponent and interested party testimony during these hearings. The witness form can be found here

Budget Update
The House Finance Committee accepted the omnibus amendment for House Bill (HB) 33, the biennial budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Following its passage out of committee, HB 33 was sent to the House floor for a vote on Wednesday, April 26th. The bill passed 77-19 and is now on its way to the Senate. Click 

Next week’s testimony opportunities
The House Economic and Workforce Development Committee will be holding a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1, which would reform the functions and responsibilities of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The hearing will occur on Tuesday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m. and will be accepting opponent testimony.

The House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a hearing on…

The legislature will be back on Monday, April 17, when the biennial budget process and committee hearings will resume. Please continue reaching out to your legislators as we advocate for a full phase in of the Fair School Funding Plan and updates to the base cost inputs to FY 2022.

Next week’s testimony opportunities
The House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a hearing on House Bill (HB) 1, tax reform, on Tuesday, April 18 at 2:30 p.m. They will be accepting proponent, opponent and interested party testimony during this hearing.

The House Primary…

The legislature is on spring recess until Monday, April 17, when the biennial budget process and committee hearings will resume. Please continue reaching out to your legislators as we advocate for a full phase in of the Fair School Funding Plan and updates to the base cost inputs to FY 2022.

New Bills Introduced
The following bills were introduced this week:

  • HB 145, sponsored by Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) and Brian E. Lampton (R-Beavercreek), which would…