Election Bill Draws Broad Opposition
An election bill opposed by OEA and many other groups, drew broad opposition at its third hearing before the Senate General Government Committee. Senate Bill (SB) 153, sponsored by State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware), drew overwhelming criticism as it would create new regulations making it harder for citizens to collect signatures for statewide ballot issues, and create barriers for new or updated voter registration. Please click here to read a summary of SB 153 put together by our partners at Common Cause Ohio.
At the hearing on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 69 individuals and organizations provided opposition testimony on the bill. By contrast, only one group—a free enterprise advocacy organization headquartered in Florida—has testified as a proponent.
OEA was one of 140 organizations to sign on to an opposition letter on the bill. You can view the letter here.
Policy Matters Ohio to host virtual town hall on defending Medicaid, including critical school-based services like CHIP
The U.S. House recently passed a dangerous budget proposal that would cut funding for vital services to millions of Americans. The bill is now under Senate consideration and contains provisions that threaten to slash Medicaid funding, including critical school-based services that support students’ health and learning. These cuts would severely impact Ohio schools’ ability to provide Medicaid-reimbursed services like nursing care, school counseling, therapy, and psychological services.
In Ohio, more than 1 in 3 children rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for health coverage. In many school districts, particularly in rural and high-poverty areas, that number is significantly higher. These programs fund essential services that help students stay healthy, focused, and ready to learn.
Click here to see the percentage of students enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP by school district in Ohio: https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/03/17/medicaid-chip-coverage-in-ohio-school-districts-2019-2023/
We invite you to join our partners at Policy Matters Ohio for a virtual town hall focused on defending Medicaid, including protecting CHIP and preserving access to school-based health services for Ohio students.
When: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Where: Zoom – Register here and share with your network
Featured Panelists:
- Georgetown University Center for Children and Families
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Northern Ohioans for Budget Legislation Equality (NOBLE)
- Ohio Association of Foodbanks
- Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN)
Please make time to attend and help us spread the word to fellow members, parents, and community partners. Together, we can protect Medicaid and CHIP—and ensure that every Ohio student has access to the health care they need, where they need it most.
Next Week at the General Assembly
Here is your weekly snapshot of notable legislative developments, committee hearings, and bill activity at the Ohio Statehouse. Please review the updates below and take note of key actions or opportunities to engage.
Top Legislative Priorities This Week
House Bill 96 — State Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027
- Status: Currently pending before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee.
- Summary: HB 96 as passed by the Ohio House creates a school funding shortfall by replacing the Fair School Funding Plan with a “Bridge Formula” and a 30% year-over-year carryover cap for local school districts.
- OEA Position: Interested Party
- Next Steps: The Ohio Senate Finance Committee heard public testimony this week and is anticipated to adopt a substitute bill on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. After adoption of the substitute bill, the Senate Finance Committee will hear public testimony on the bill through Friday, June 6, 2025.
Senate Bill 158 — Ban on Cell Phone Use in Schools
- Status: Currently pending before the Ohio House Education Committee, passed by the Ohio Senate on May 15, 2025, with a vote of 30 yeas to 2 nays.
- Summary: Requires school districts to adopt policies governing the use of cellphones during instructional day, however the bill maintains an exception to this prohibition permitting the use of cellphones for student learning or to monitor or address a health concern deemed appropriate by the school’s governing body or if included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
- OEA Position: Interested Party—OEA supports the ability for local school districts to make the determination on appropriate use of cell phones as passed in HB 250 from the 135th Ohio General Assembly.
- Next Steps: The Ohio House Education Committee will hear sponsor testimony on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Jane Timken (R-Jackson Twp.).
Important Committee Hearings Next Week
Ohio Senate Finance Committee
The Ohio Senate Finance Committee has scheduled multiple hearings for the week of June 2–6, 2025, focusing on the state operating budget (Amended Substitute House Bill 96). All hearings are set to take place in the Finance Hearing Room. To view committee hearings on the Ohio Channel Live, please click here.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
- Time: 2:30 PM
- Agenda: Am. Sub. H.B. 96 – 9th Hearing
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Agenda: Am. Sub. H.B. 96 – 10th Hearing
Thursday, June 5, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Agenda: Am. Sub. H.B. 96 – 11th Hearing
Friday, June 6, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Agenda: Am. Sub. H.B. 96 – 12th Hearing
These hearings are part of the ongoing deliberations on the state operating appropriations for Fiscal Years 2026–2027. Stakeholders interested in providing testimony should refer to the committee’s guidelines and submission deadlines.
For real-time updates and to access meeting materials, please visit the Senate Finance Committee Meetings page.
Ohio House Education Committee
The Ohio House Education Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 2:15 PM in Room 121 of the Ohio Statehouse. During next week’s hearing, the committee will hear testimony on the following bills:
First Hearings (Sponsor Testimony)
- H.B. 269 (Reps. Ritter, Newman)
Topic: Regards success sequence and character education curriculum
Note: Possible amendment - H.B. 294 (Reps. Mathews, T., Ritter)
Topic: Addresses intradistrict open enrollment policies - Sub. S.B. 158 (Sen. Timken)
Topic: Prohibits student cell phone use in public schools
Second Hearings (Proponent/Opponent/Interested Party Testimony; Possible Vote)
- H.B. 187 (Reps. Click, Synenberg)
Topic: Requires daily moment of silence in schools - H.C.R. 7 (Reps. Ghanbari, Miller, J.)
Topic: Supports American Legion Buckeye Boys State and Buckeye Girls State
Third Hearing (Possible Vote)
- H.B. 117 (Reps. Richardson, Brennan)
Topic: Enacts The Pledge of Allegiance Act
For real-time updates and to access meeting materials, please visit the House Education Committee meetings page.
Get Involved
- Take Action: Please continue to send letters to your Ohio Senators about the importance of fully updating and funding the fair school funding plan by using OEA’s action alert.
For an archive of past Legislative Watch releases, visit the Legislative Watch archive.