A provision in the version of the two-year state budget passed by Ohio House Republicans would eliminate elected members from the State Board of Education. This comes after the last budget stripped the board of most of its power.

Anti-hunger advocates saw a mixed bag with the final Ohio House version of the state budget, and they’re hoping to claw back some losses via the Senate’s draft.

The Ohio House’s version of the two-year state operating budget added new requirements for private colleges if they want to continue to participate in the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, including complying with Ohio’s new higher education ban on diversity and inclusion efforts.

Food assistance programs in the state would see large cuts and changes under the Ohio House’s budget plan. Meanwhile, a bipartisan pair of lawmakers are trying to prevent electronic benefit card fraud by equipping them with chip technology.

Calls from the Ohio Library Day gathering of about 350 library staff members from across the state were possibly heard from the Ohio Statehouse atrium on Tuesday, because the newest House version of the budget walks back plans to eliminate the Public Library Fund.

Two Republican Ohio state lawmakers want to ensure kids under 16 can’t join social media apps without parental consent. They contend kids face an avalanche of content from likes and friend requests to cyberbullying and sextortion. Their proposal will help parents protect their kids, they say.

Ohio businesses say they’re ready to implement pending legislation that would improve the child care industry, and in fact, some already have programs in place that they say prove the usefulness of not only business support, but state support in child care.

With a few last-minute tweaks, and one notable surprise, Ohio state lawmakers pushed a wide reaching energy bill through the House. The previous week the Senate passed its version of the same measure unanimously, and meaningful differences remain between the two bills. But in terms of broad strokes, it appears lawmakers have a plan.

Republican lawmakers want to make Ohio’s school year longer by adding 53 hours of instructional time.

Ohio Democratic lawmakers will try to push back against existing abortion regulations and align state law with the state constitution in a new bill to codify reproductive care.

Ohio Democrats peppered Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino with questions over his higher education overhaul bill last week. The bill would ban faculty strikes and diversity efforts on campus, as well as set rules around classroom discussion.

Highland County Job & Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff testified before the Ohio House of Representatives Children and Human Services Committee to advocate for Children Services funding during a recent hearing to consider the next state biennial budget.

Ohio lawmakers are introducing bills that would require high school students to take a computer science course before graduating.

Budget discussions on education have begun in the Ohio General Assembly, along with the reconvening of the House Education Committee, which is preparing to take a hard look at the state’s school regulation and funding as it establishes legislative priorities on the topic.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has been officially confirmed by the General Assembly as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s lieutenant governor.