STATEHOUSE
2022 Lame Duck Session Has Begun!
Follow fast-moving legislation with our new Lame Duck Tracker
Read a full list of our bills HERE
Full Schedule for Week of November 28: Senate | House
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
1:00pm - House Session
1:30pm - Senate Session
2:30pm - Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
- SB 361, Sponsor Hearing - Expand veteran eligibility - employ as teachers without licenses
- HB 497, Sponsor Hearing - Eliminate retention under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee
- HB 151, Sponsor Hearing - Ban transgender youth from sports teams & replace Ohio Teacher Residency program with local mentorship
- SB 178, Proponent & Interested Party Hearing - Reform function, responsibilities of state education offices
- SB 365, Proponent Hearing - Include free market capitalism content in educational standards
Thursday, December 1, 2022
9:00am - House Government Oversight Committee
- HB 294, Possible amendment / possible vote 4th hearing - Election Security & Modernization Act
1:00pm - House Session
RESOURCES
Watch LIVE and Recorded Hearings
Legislative Calendar
Legislation Tracker
Lame Duck Tracker
SB 178
HEARING UPDATE
Next Hearing on November 30, 2:30pm
Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
Watch LIVE Hearing
On Tuesday, the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard proponent testimony for SB 178, a bill "to reform the functions and responsibilities of state education offices." During the hearing, Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) introduced a massive sub bill with little explanation or context. A few school superintendents testified in favor of the bill.
Watch the hearing | Read analysis of bill | Read Honesty's Statement
Senator Reineke introduced SB 178 in May 2021, but the bill did not move until November after voters elected three new members to the State Board of Education.
SB 178 would rename the Department of Education as the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) and shift oversight of public education from the State Board of Education to an appointed director from the governor's office. Highlights below.
- Creates a governor-appointed Director of Education and Workforce to oversee DEW
- Creates the Division of Primary and Secondary Education and the Division of CareerTechnical Education, each headed by a deputy director
- Transfers most of the powers and duties of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the DEW director, including the adoption of education standards and model curricula and assessing student achievement and school district performance
- State Board of Education duties reduced to appointing the state superintendent, school territory transfer, decisions about licensure and staff conduct
TAKE ACTION
Tell the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee to STOP SB 178
Email Senators HERE
RESOURCES
TAKE ACTION | Bill Info | Orginal Bill As Written | Analysis
Sponsor: Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) | Sponsor Testimony
Committee: Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee
HB 454: GOOD NEWS!
From our Family at Equality Ohio:
We have just learned that House Bill 454, which would ban gender affirming care for minors in Ohio, will not move forward this year. While we must hold them to this and remain vigilant looking to next year, this is a huge win for our community. And it’s because of YOU.
Our community showed up. YOU testified, filled four hearing rooms on Opposition hearing day, and made your POWERFUL voices heard this session.
When we work together, we win.
Read more from the Dispatch.
ICYMI: On Wednesday, November 16, the House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee heard more than two hours of opponent testimony against House Bill 454, Ohio's bill banning gender-affirming mental and medical healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth. Equality Ohio reports that nearly 300 Ohioans submitted written testimony opposing the bill and supporters filled THREE overflow rooms at the Statehouse! Watch the hearing HERE
Rep. Gary Click introduced a sub bill that requires:
- Two years of counseling "related to gender dysphoria, mental health, and the risks of gender transition."
- Screening for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and autism and a confirmation that these conditions have been "treated and stabilized" for two years.
- Screening for physical and/or sexual assault.
- Consultation with a second physician
- Physicians report various medical information about patients to the state, creating a type of registry for transgender patients
In Arkansas, this type of legislation caused a federal judge to block the measure in July 2022. As a result, the Department of Justice issued this letter reinforcing federal nondiscrimination obligations for trans youth.
Resources:
Bill Info | Bill As Written | Updated Analysis
Sponsor: Reps Gary Click and Diane Grendell
Committee: House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee
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