COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers passed about two dozen bills during their marathon lame duck session. Some include requiring schools to notify parents if the child identifies as LGBTQ+, the criminalization of sexual extortion and permanent expulsion of "dangerous" students.
Every remaining bill that didn't get passed during the lame duck session died. Lawmakers will have to go through the same process starting next year to get their bill passed.
Not every bill that passed will be mentioned in this article.
Here is what passed
H.B. 8
This bill would require schools and teachers to notify parents about any changes to their child's mental, physical, or emotional well-being — including if they identify as LGBTQ+.
The legislation also mandates notification about so-called "sexuality" content.
RELATED: Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates warn against school 'forced outing' bill
The Senate has added an amendment, one that requires public schools to allow kids to leave class to go to religious instruction.
RELATED: Public school religious instruction release bill gets support, opposition in Ohio Senate committee
Only four Republicans voted against this legislation.
State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) voted against it twice in the House.
"Passing legislation that has the potential to out a child who's deeply questioning their place in the world — I think — is just dangerous for those kids and it's really really bad public policy," told me Wednesday.
State Reps. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) also voted no. State Sen. Bill Blessing (R-Colerain Township) was the only Republican senator to vote against it.
H.B. 206
It would allow schools to expel for longer based on “imminent and severe endangerment.”
This includes bringing a gun or knife to a school, committing a criminal offense that results in harm to another or property, making bomb threats — or any other written or verbal threat such as a hit list, manifesto or malicious social media post.
RELATED: Ohio lawmakers push for permanent school expulsion policy
To be reinstated, the student must go through a psychological evaluation. Even after the evaluation, the school superintendent can deny the student if they don’t think they have been “rehabilitated" enough. From there, the superintendent can reevaluate the student after 90 days. If they fail, again, they can be prohibited from the school for another 90 — and that would continue on.
Amendments were added in the Senate.
One of them allows the Dept. of Ed. & Workforce to move money around to fight lawsuits due to EdChoice voucher program, according to Senate Education Chair Andrew Brenner.
H.B. 322
It creates the offense of grooming, prohibiting an adult from engaging in a “pattern of conduct” with a minor that would cause a “reasonable adult” to believe that the adult has a “purpose to entice, coerce, solicit, or prepare the minor to engage in “sexual activity.”
The offense would also be seen on background checks, meaning a coach who was fired for grooming behaviors could be prevented from getting a job at another school.
H.B. 531
This bill makes sexual extortion a crime.
If the crime results in bodily harm or death, a court could impose an additional 10 years.
This legislation provides immunity to victims for sending explicit images.
The bill would also allow a parent or guardian to gain access to a phone or device belonging to a deceased minor within 30 days.
RELATED: Family of teen victim applauds Ohio lawmakers’ effort to make sextortion a crime
H.B. 7
This bill would expand access to prenatal, postnatal, infant and toddler services and supports.
H.J.R. 8 — on the ballot this May
This would propose a new constitutional amendment on the May ballot. This would renew Ohio’s authority to issue bonds to fund local-level public infrastructure capital improvement projects.
H.B. 173
Among other consumer assistance, this would make it a law for medical facilities to have real prices posted, not just estimates.
RELATED: Health care price transparency: New version of Ohio bill draws changes and challenges
H.B. 29
The bill authorizes a person whose driver’s license is suspended for failure to pay child support to petition a court for limited driving privileges.
It also authorizes a person who is in default on child support payments to present evidence that a driver’s license suspension would effectively prevent that person from paying child support or the arrearage due under the child support order.
H.B. 366
This creates the Organized Retail Theft Task Force within the Organized Crime Investigations Commission to investigate retail theft activity, including cargo theft and any complaint received involving retail theft.
This would be if someone knowingly stole $7,500 of retail property.
H.B. 452
It requires each hospital to establish a security plan. It also allows for civil immunity for self or other defense in a nonprofit facility, such as a church or synagogue.
H.B. 331
This would require an audit of all villages every 10 years after the U.S. Census to make sure each village provides at least five of the following services:
- Police
- Fire
- Garbage collection
- Water or Sewer service
- Emergency medical services
- Road maintenance
- Park services or other recreation services
- Human services
- Public library established and operated solely by the village.
If a village is unable to meet that requirement, it would automatically trigger a ballot measure on whether or not to dissolve at the next general election.
RELATED: This Ohio village just voted itself out of existence
H.B. 77
This creates a framework for drone operations.
H.B. 74
This creates the Cybersecurity and Fraud Advisory Board, which examines and develops recommendations to improve cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
It also prohibits a person from preprinting or filling out any portion of a voter registration form or an application for absent voter’s ballots on behalf of an applicant.
The bill also allows for the Attorney General to reject any statewide initiative or referendum petition by just their title.
RELATED: Ohio AG Yost allows voting amendment to proceed, other proposals might not be far behind
H.B. 315
The big ticket item is H.B. 315, the Christmas Tree Bill. This means that the original bill was amended with several other pieces of legislation.
This bill, for lack of better words, is giant. Some of the provisions include:
- H.B. 152, which would require health insurers to cover up to $2,500 per individual hearing aid every 48 months for Ohioans under the age of 22. The bill also requires coverage for related services such as fittings and hearing exams.
- H.B. 660, which would allow universities to directly pay student-athletes for their name, image and likeness.
- Provision to exempt sports facilities from sales tax. The bill exempts sales of tangible personal property that is sold for incorporation into the construction of a sports facility that houses major league professional athletic teams.
- Created the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio Advisory Board, which consists of 12 members. It also creates the "Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library" specialty license plate.
Future stories will evaluate specific legislation and its impact.
Here is what failed
Although plenty of other legislation passed, most bills didn't make it to the finish line. Some of these bills died long before lame duck began but were controversial or hot topics, so I am including them here.
Some of these bills failed because there weren't enough votes, not enough hearings, not a priority or because the House and Senate chambers disagreed.
Context: The vast majority of legislation proposed solely by Democrats did not pass — especially in regard to social issues. This includes topics like reproductive healthcare and firearm safety.
H.B. 296
It would've increased employer contributions to the OP&F, raising city input from 19.5% to 24% for police in a span of six years. It would also raise employee contributions from 12.25% to 12.5% in 2030.
RELATED: Ohio House passes pension reform aimed at combatting police understaffing
S.B. 326
It would've banned Delta 8 and other "intoxicating" hemp products.
RELATED: Ohio GOP, again, proposes restricting marijuana and making it more expensive
H.B. 51
It would've prevented local police officers from working with federal law enforcement, including accessing their databases, when combatting gun crime.
RELATED: Ohio lawmakers block proposal to ban police from working with feds
S.B. 297
It would've defined antisemitism, so state agencies could investigate, as well as expanded the offense of ethnic intimidation to include offenses of "riot" due to someone's race, color, religion, or national origin. This bill created mixed feelings, as it could have led to protestors on college campuses, such as pro-Palestine rallies, to be charged with felonies.
RELATED: GOP Ohio Senator introduces legislation to define ‘antisemitism’
Anything substantial on property tax reform.
There have been dozens of bills proposed to give relief to homeowners due to the continually rising property tax. Commissions have been created. Statewide reports were released. Nothing widespread was accomplished.
We have a series on property taxes and the struggles Ohioans have been facing. Click here to read more.
S.B. 83
It would've overhauled the higher education system. This was the most protested bill in recent history, according to Senate staff.
RELATED: Ohio House blocks controversial higher education overhaul bill
S.B. 295
It would've automatically shut down low-performing Ohio public schools.
RELATED, from my colleague at OCJ: Ohio Senate bill would automatically close low-performing public schools
S.B. 212
It would've required every porn watcher to provide 18+ age verification.
RELATED: PornSnub — Ohio lawmakers want to require ID to watch online pornography
H.B. 392
It would've allowed the state to start using nitrogen gas for the death penalty.
RELATED: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost promotes bill to start using nitrogen gas for executions
H.B. 279
It would've majorly reformed school buses to make them more safe for children.
RELATED: What to watch at the Ohio Statehouse this week of lame duck session
H.B. 348
It would've paid students to go to school to boost attendance and graduation rates.
RELATED: To combat chronic absenteeism, bipartisan Ohio lawmakers propose paying kids to go to school
Never received a bill number — but exists
It would've required greater campaign finance disclosure. This came from an investigation I did into the governor's alleged connection to the largest bribery scheme in state history.
RELATED: Ohio Republicans draft bill to require campaign fund disclosure amid DeWine text message debacle
H.B. 478
It would've protected homeowners from "squatters," people trying to claim rights over someone else's residence.
RELATED: Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to fight 'squatters' taking over homes
If you have questions or want an update on a particular piece of legislation — email me at Morgan.Trau@wews.com with the subject line 'DID THIS BILL PASS?'
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