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GUIDE FOR TALKING TO MEMBERS ABOUT STATE ISSUE 1

 

OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY | 135TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY • 1ST SESSION
Title
Summary
Bill No.
Position
To require 60% approval from voters to make changes to the state constitutionProposing to amend Sections of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to require a vote of at least 60% of the electors to approve any constitutional amendment and to modify the procedures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment. Read LSC AnalysisS.J.R. 2Oppose
Revise Education Law and Department duties; rename the departmentRenames the Department of Education as the Department of Education and Workforce Development (D.E.W.). Transfers most of the powers and duties of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 1Oppose
Modify the film and theater tax creditTo amend and enact sections  of the Revised Code to modify the film and theater tax credit and to authorize a tax credit for capital improvement projects relating to the film and theater industries.S.B. 4Watch
Establish the Workforce Voucher ProgramEstablishes the Workforce Voucher Program, requiring the Director of Development to award vouchers to students at public and private institutions of higher education seeking degrees, certifications, or licenses for in-demand jobs. Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 5Watch
Enact the Parent Educational Freedom ActExpands eligibility for Educational Choice scholarships to all students; ceases operation of the Pilot Project (Cleveland) Scholarship Program; increases the amount of homeschooling expenses that a taxpayer can claim as an income tax credit each from, from $250 to $2000. HB 11 is the companion bill. Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 11Oppose
Expand veteran eligibility to teach without a licensePermits a school district, community school, or STEM school to employ an eligible veteran who does not hold an educator license as a teacher; establishes related service, educational, registration, and mentorship requirements that a veteran must meet in order to be employed as a teacher. Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 14Watch
Allow person under 16 to work after 7 p.m. during the school yearTo amend the Ohio Revised Code to allow a person under sixteen years of age to be employed after 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. during the school year and to require a parent or guardian to sign a work hour notification form for a minor to receive an age and schooling certificate. Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 30Watch
Prohibit public employer granting paid leave-certain activitiesTo enact section 4117.091 of the Revised Code to prohibit a public employer from providing paid leave or compensation for a public employee to engage in certain union activities. Analysis UnavailableS.B. 47Oppose
Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement ActTo amend and enact sections of the Revised Code to enact the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act regarding the operation of state institutions of higher education. Includes language that would prohibit "employees of any state institution of higher education" from going on strike. Read LSC AnalysisS.B. 83Oppose
Expand offense of aggravated menacing for utility workersTo amend section 2903.21 of the Revised Code to expand the offense of aggravated menacing to prohibit threatening a utility worker, cable operator worker, or broadband worker with intent to obstruct the operation of a utility.S.B. 88Support
Revise Ohio's Unemployment Compensation LawTo amend and enact sections of the Revised Code to make changes to Ohio's Unemployment Compensation Law. S.B. 116Oppose
To require 60% approval from voters to make changes to the state constitutionProposing to amend Sections of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to require a vote of at least 60% of the electors to approve any constitutional amendment and to modify the procedures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment. Read LSC AnalysisH.J.R. 1Oppose
Modify the law regarding property taxation and income tax ratesTo amend and repeal sections of the Ohio Revised Code to modify the law regarding property taxation and income tax rates. Read LSC AnalysisH.B. 1Oppose
Continue phasing-in the school financing systemTo express the intent of the General Assembly to 1 continue phasing in the school financing system 2 established in H.B. 110 of the 134th General 3 Assembly and, if practicable, fully phase it in. Read LSC AnalysisH.B. 10Support
Establish the Backpack Scholarship ProgramTo amend the Ohio Revised Code to establish the Backpack Scholarship Program to begin operating for the 2023-2024 school year, to repeal the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program and the Pilot Project Scholarship Program on July 1, 2024, and to make an appropriation. SB 11 is the companion bill. Read LSC AnalysisH.B. 11Oppose
Establishes operating appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025Improves the Fair School Funding Formula. Increases funding for students with disabilities. Also expands the income based EdChoice voucher program by raising eligibility from the current 250% of poverty level to 450%. Read LSC AnalysisH.B. 33Watch
Reverse H.B. 509/134th GA changes to EMS training, continuing edTo amend the Ohio Revised Code to restore law related to emergency medical services training and continuing education programs and EMS and fire instructor certification, and to amend the versions of the Revised Code that are scheduled to take effect on December 29, 2023, to continue the changes on and after that date, and to declare an emergency. Read LSC AnalysisH.B. 52Support
US CONGRESS | 118TH CONGRESS • FIRST SESSION
Title
Summary
Bill No.
Position
Social Security Fairness ActThe bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from state or local government. Government Pension Offset (GPO)/Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)H.R. 82/S.B. 597Support
Pandemic is Over ActTerminates the public health emergency declared with respect to COVID-19. Read Full AnalysisH.R. 382Oppose
FAIR ActTo increase the rate of pay under the statutory pay systems and for prevailing rate employees by 8.7 percent, and for other purposes.H.R. 536/S.B. 124Support
Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Rights to Organize Act of 2023To expand various labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace.S. 567/H.R. 20Support
LOCAL
Title
Summary
Bill No.
Position
Pertaining to Community Benefit AgreementsTo supplement the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio, 1976, by enacting new Chapter 191A, Sections 191A.01 through 191A.07, related to Community Benefits Agreements. [Read the Ordinance]CLEVELAND: Ord. No. 297-2023Watch
SCOTUS WATCH
Case
Summary
Status
Glacier Northwest, Inc., v. International Brotherhood of TeamstersA case on whether employers can sue unions for damage to property caused during strike action. Supreme Court ruled against the unions 8-1.

Read the Opinion

6/1/23

OTHER
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless; Ohio Federation of Teachers; Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans; and Union Veterans Council v. Frank LaRose  (HB 458 PHOTO IDENTIFICATION LAW)
Case #: 1:23-cv-26 
Notes: Filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division. The Plaintiffs believe that House Bill 458 will severely restrict Ohioan’s access to the polls – particularly those voters who are young, elderly, and black, as well as those serving in the military and others living abroad. The law imposes one of the most stringent photo-identification requirements in the country (eliminates ability to provide bank statements, utility bills, government checks, paychecks, and other government documents as acceptable forms of identification when voting in person); significantly advances the deadline during which voters must provide the documents or information necessary to ensure that their provisional ballots or rejected ballots are counted; and significantly advances the deadlines by which voters must submit applications for mailed absentee-voter ballots.
  • Read the Complaint
UNION LEADER RESOURCES

HB 458 Legislative Fact Sheet (voter photo I.D.U.S. law, Effective 4/7/23)

HB 458 Final Analysis (Ohio Legislative Service Commission)

HR 1065 Legislative Fact Sheet (Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, Effective 6/27/23)

State Issue 1

UPDATED 6/8/2023