Holmes Supports Legislation to Protect Elections and Reopen Ohio

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives reconvened for session yesterday and State Representative Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), along with his colleagues, voted in support of some instrumental legislation.

Of that legislation was House Bill 272. House Bill 272’s original intent was to expand the basis of a court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction to include any basis consistent with the Ohio Constitution and the United States Constitution. House Bill 272 would also prohibit a public official from ordering the closure of all places of worship in a geographic area and to prohibit a public official from changing the time, place or manner of conducting an election, except in certain circumstances. The language in this bill provides protection to Ohio’s elections to ensure an incident like the March 2020 primary election won’t ever happen again.

“This year’s primary election was chaotic, to say the least,” said Holmes. “House Bill 272 includes amendments similar to the language in House Bill 680, including prohibiting a public official from interfering with an election.”

Additionally, Holmes voted in support of House Bill 606. Also known as the Good Samaritan Expansion Bill, House Bill 606 would protect healthcare providers, first responders, schools, small businesses and others from frivolous lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The bill applies to acts, omissions, conduct, decisions, or compliance from the date of the Governor’s Executive Order, 2020-01D, issued on March 9, 2020, declaring a state of emergency due to COVID-19, through September 30, 2021.

“House Bill 606 is imperative to getting businesses, schools and other institutions on track to reopen as quickly and, most importantly, as safely as possible,” concluded Holmes. 

-30- 

For more information, contact Rep. Holmes’s office at (614) 644-6014 or rep97@ohiohouse.gov