COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers have already 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 doesn’t get passed during the lame duck session dies. Lawmakers would 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.
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.
Future stories will evaluate specific legislation and its impact.
Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.
