Legislative Alert - June 27, 2024
Ohio General Assembly
Legislative Activity Update – June 27, 2024
After a swirl of legislative activity, the House and Senate sent 33 and 24 bills, respectively, to their chamber floors for votes on Wednesday of this week before adjourning for summer recess.
There were discussions of proposed recreational marijuana-related reforms but no legislation was ultimately passed. We do expect these issues to be discussed again this fall.
The House closed a nearly 12-hour session with a surprise vote by Republicans to mandate single-sex bathrooms and locker rooms at public and private K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. The requirement was added to a Senate bill about the College Credit Plus Program and passed by a vote of 59 to 32. The bill still needs concurrence approval by the Senate before going to the Governor for signature.
The hallmark legislation passed by both chambers was House Bill 2, which included over $ 4 billion in funding for projects through the traditional capital budget and One- Time Strategic Community Investment Fund. Lawmakers approved traditional capital projects, as well as hundreds of community projects throughout the state with the $717.8 million One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund.
The budget plan included roughly $600 million for the construction and renovation of K-12 school buildings, $475 million for Ohio’s colleges and universities, $314 million for state prison and county jail renovations, and over $153 million for mental health treatment facilities.
Bills headed to the Governor for signature:
House Bill 47 (Brown, Bird)
To require the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in each public and chartered nonpublic school and each public recreational facility and to require the Ohio Department of Health to develop a model emergency action plan for the use of AEDs
House Bill 56 (Plummer, White)
To prohibit causing the death of or serious physical harm to another while operating a utility vehicle or mini truck, require law enforcement to train officers related to the pursuit of a motor vehicle, and other changes
Senate Bill 94 (Brenner, Landis)
To make various changes regarding recorded instruments, law enforcement towing laws, liquor control laws, community reinvestment areas, electronic filing of pleadings or documents in courts of common pleas, enact the CAMPUS Act, and other changes
Senate Bill 98 (Rulli)
To address fraudulent business filings, make changes regarding property taxation, acting or assigned judge reimbursements, common pleas clerk of court duties, recreational vehicle park and camp operation licenses, and state ballot numbering
Senate Bill 168 (Reynolds)
To make changes regarding primary, secondary, and higher education reform and notice requirements for certain employed retirants, to transfer cash from the General Revenue Fund to the High School Financial Literacy Fund, and other changes
Senate Bill 214 (Kunze)
To allow a victim of human trafficking to expunge certain criminal records
Bills to note that were passed by one Chamber but are still pending include:
House Bill 79 (Seitz, Sweeney)
To permit other electronic distribution utilities to establish energy efficiency and demand reduction portfolios
● Status: Passed the House with a vote of 50 to 46.
Senate Bill 104 (Cirino)
To make changes regarding the College Credit Plus Program
● Status: Passed the House with a vote of 60 to 31 and is awaiting the Senate for concurrence or non-concurrence
Senate Bill 60 (Gavarone)
To make changes to license certified mental health assistants
● Status: Passed the Senate with a vote of 20 to 11
Senate Bill 173 (Gavarone, DeMora)
To specify that certain election officials are designated public service workers for purposes of public records law
● Status: Passed the Senate with a vote of 30 to 1