ohio house | The Highland County Press

In The News 31 May 2024

Ohio House sends foreign influence, Biden ballot fix legislation to Senate

The Ohio House approved measures Thursday to change the presidential nomination deadline, even though Democrats announced a virtual convention to comply with state deadlines, and to bar foreign contributions in statewide issue campaigns. Democratic members argue the latter bill is more likely to stamp out statewide ballot initiatives than foreign influence.

Education 28 May 2024

Ohio Dems lay out education bills to increase funding, target private vouchers and student hunger

Ohio House Democrats have laid out a plethora of bills targeting the education system in the state, impacting everything from teacher pay to oversight of private school vouchers and the overall funding of the public school system.

Headlines 27 May 2024

GOP brings bill to partner child care and employers

Republicans in the House and Senate recognized the “crisis” in Ohio involving child care costs and access, committing in a new bill to partner employers and the state, in the effort to stem the problem.

Education 23 May 2024

Proposed Ohio bill would charge teachers, librarians with felonies for ‘pandering obscenity’

A Republican-led bill just introduced in the Ohio House would charge teachers and librarians with a felony offense for distributing material deemed “obscene.”

Headlines 22 May 2024

Meet State Rep. Jodi Whitted, the newest member of the Ohio House

Earlier this month, the Ohio House voted to appoint Democrat Jodi Whitted to a vacant Hamilton County seat. The Madeira social worker and professor will serve until the end of this year. But due to a coincidence of redistricting, she’ll be living in a different district, already represented by a Democrat, in the coming term next year.

Education 17 May 2024

Ohio bill would require school districts to create released time for religious instruction

Two Republican lawmakers are trying to strengthen an existing Ohio law by requiring — instead of just allowing — school districts to create a policy letting students to be excused from school to go to released time religious instruction.

Education 17 May 2024

Ohio House Higher Education begins hosting science of reading testimony as rollout begins

As Ohio public school districts are starting to implement the science of reading, colleges and universities across the state will be examining their teacher preparation programs.

Headlines 14 May 2024

Ohio House begins hearings on bill prohibiting non-consensual deepfakes

Ohio House lawmakers have begun hearings on legislation that would criminalize the creation or distribution of non-consensual deepfakes. If enacted, the proposal would make it a first-degree misdemeanor on the first offense and a fifth-degree felony for any subsequent offense.

Headlines 11 May 2024

Ohio lawmakers balance motherhood and legislative duties

A few Ohio mom lawmakers said they had an important thing to do before officially deciding to run for office — conduct a family meeting.

Headlines 10 May 2024

Ohio lawmakers insist Biden will be on November’s ballot, but they’re fuzzy on details

In a surprise move, the Ohio House decided not to take up legislation to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the November ballot in Ohio.

Headlines 8 May 2024

Tech industry group wants judge to block Ohio’s social media consent law permanently

Ohio’s social media parental consent law has been on hold since January. Now, a tech company trade group is asking the judge to block the law permanently. At the same time, momentum appears to be building for alternative approaches meant to reduce the amount of time kids spend on social media.

Headlines 7 May 2024

Ohio bill would limit the ability of employers to punish employees for not taking vaccines

A proposed Ohio House Bill would restrict the ability of an employer to punish employees for not taking vaccines, or other medical treatments. The sponsors of the bill laid out their case during the bill’s first hearing earlier this month.

Headlines 26 April 2024

Ohio Dems introduce a bill to protect IVF, complement constitutional amendment

Democrats in the Ohio House say they are looking to boost the rights established in the reproductive rights constitutional amendment while awaiting the elimination of certain state laws that restrict reproductive health.

Headlines 25 April 2024

Marital rape loophole closed by Ohio General Assembly, bill moves to governor’s desk

After several years of attempts through multiple general assemblies, the Ohio legislature closed a loophole on Wednesday that kept spouses from being prosecuted for rape and other sex offenses.

Headlines 22 April 2024

New bill furthers Ohio laws that ban abortion funding, could take local government funds

A Republican bill recently introduced in the Ohio Legislature seeks a prohibition of state funding for abortion-related services, for which similar statutes and regulations already exist.

Headlines 20 April 2024

Bill to rid Ohio of spousal rape exception receives support in state Senate

Survivors of sexual assault perpetrated by their spouses had a simple request for the Ohio Legislature with regard to a loophole in state law that keeps their spouses from being held accountable.