Statehouse Bills You Need To Know About

By James C.

For the past year the Ohio Statehouse has garnered national attention over several proposed state legislations regarding issues such as, education, healthcare, abortion, critical race theory, policing, changes to gun laws and a host other of topics. As representatives from all over the state have sponsored, argued and stalled for months over the validity and implementation of these bills and laws, the public has been virtually left in the dark and unheard by the Statehouse. If the state of Ohio is to begin to recover from the economic, social and political downturns that began or were exacerbated due to the Covid- 19 pandemic then having an Ohio populace that is educated, heard and politically active locally, statewide and nationally is the first step towards progress.

Statehouse Bills To Be Aware Of

HB 616: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-616

Sponsors: Representative Mike Loychik District 63 & Representative Jean Schmidt District 65

Synopsis: House Bill 616 or, as its been nicknamed by those in opposition of the bill the, “Don’t Say Gay Bill” is a proposed bill in the Ohio Statehouse that seeks to prohibit schools from teaching K- 12 students about “divisive concepts” and implement “age appropriate education”. The bill lists Critical Race Theory, sexual orientation and gender identity among the list of “divisive concepts” the bill would outright ban from being taught in Ohio schools.

First Hearing: May 31, 2022

Upcoming Hearings: Jun 8, 2022

Status: Still in debate within the Ohio House of Representatives

HB 322 & 327: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-322 https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-327

Sponsors: Rep. Don Jones District 95 & Diane V. Grendell District 76

Synopsis: House Bills 322 & 327 are StateHouse legislations that seek to ban Ohio K-12 schools from teaching a list of prohibited concepts legislators deem “divisive”and remove diversity and bias training for teachers. Many of those who oppose the bills have deemed them the “Anti CRT” bills. Concepts such as race, sexual orientation, current political and social issues would be banned from being taught in Ohio schools. Penalties for violating HB 322 & 327 would result in loss of state funding for the school, loss of class credit for students taking a class about a prohibited topic and the revoking of licenses of teachers who disobey the legislation.

First Hearing: June 15th, 2021

Upcoming hearing: June 8th, 2022

Status: Still in debate and has sat in the house committee for over a year.

HB 99: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-99

Sponsor: Rep. Thomas Hall District 53

Synopsis: House Bill 99 is a bill that has recently made its way through the StateHouse that seeks to legally allow Ohio teachers to carry concealed carry firearms while in K- 12 schools. In the wake of school shootings and other mass shootings occurring nationwide Ohio representatives decided to introduce legislation that would allow Ohio teachers to, after going through basic training programs, obtain the right to carry firearms while in school. HB 99 has received national media attention and has, as of June 1, 2022, passed through the Ohio house and senate.

First hearing: March 4, 2021

Status: Passed through the Ohio house and senate and is at the table of Gov. Mark DeWine( Rep.)

HB 598: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-598

Sponsor: Rep. Jean Schmidt District 65

Synopsis: House Bill 598 or as its been coined by its opposers “Ohio’s Anti Abortion Bill” is a proposed legislation that seeks to outlaw legal abortions in the state of Ohio,without a rape exemption. The bill would make criminal abortion a 4th degree felony and creates a new crime called Abortion Manslaughter. Penalties would result in up to 25 years of prison time as well as a $10,000 fine. HB 598 follows the trend of a number of states revoking the landmark Roe V. Wade Supreme court decision of 1973. Currently the bill sits in the House committee waiting to be decided on.

First hearing: April 27, 2022

Upcoming hearing: June 8, 2022

Staus: Still being debated in the house committee no official vote as of yet.

Sources & References

Statehouse Bills To Be Aware Of

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