Representative Lear Votes in Support of Senate Bill 1, House Bill 28, and House Bill 54

Representative Beth Lear (R-Galena) voted yesterday in support of Senate Bill 1, legislation that works to bring a “Students First” agenda to Ohio public universities, House Bill 28, legislation to make Ohio’s property tax system more transparent, and Sub. House Bill 54, which allocates funding for Ohio’s transportation Budget.  

Senate Bill 1 would make the following changes at the state’s institutions of higher education:

• DEI Elimination: Eliminates institutional discrimination and indoctrination by removing DEI programs, trainings, and orientations.
• Protect Freedom of Speech and Promote Equality: Ensures that Ohioans’ opinions are safe from being silenced or marginalized and may receive due discussion, protecting all students and faculty, and encourages an environment that welcomes diverse perspectives at Ohio higher education institutions. 
• Ensure Uninterrupted Education: Prevents situations where students cannot graduate or otherwise progress with their studies by prohibiting faculty strikes or walkouts.
• Ensure High Quality Education: Requires institutions to evaluate tenured faculty who are not meeting performance expectations, ensuring continued high-quality education and rigor after a faculty member is granted tenure status. 
• Prioritize Civics and Capitalism Education: Ensures Ohio students have a foundational understanding of American Civics and capitalism.
• Enforce Foreign Influence Restrictions: Safeguards Ohio’s institutions from interference and influence by the People’s Republic of China.

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion does not live up to the virtues it supposedly represents. The focus needs to be on individual merit and exemplary qualifications rather than race. If anything, DEI promotes discrimination, it does not fight against it. It’s time for the state to return its focus to teaching student how to think instead of what to think,” said Representative Lear

Senate Bill 1 now moves to the Ohio Senate for a concurrence vote. 

Under House Bill 28, local governments will be prohibited from proposing replacement property tax levies – which can mislead voters and result in unexpected property tax increases – beginning with elections held on or after October 21, 2025. 

The bill will not affect existing replacement levies. The legislation will preserve the ability of local governments to renew existing levies and propose increases or new levies directly.

“Replacement” levies can fool voters into supporting a levy they think is the same as the current levy but actually raises our property taxes. The people of Ohio are hurting from inflationary increases in property values. They deserve transparency in levy language,” said Representative Lear

House Bill 28 now moves the Ohio Senate for consideration.

Sub. House Bill 54 was concurred by the Ohio House of Representatives on Senate amendments to the bill. This legislation is the primary mechanism to fund transportation infrastructure development and maintenance for FY 2026 and 2027. 

It invests more than $11.48 billion over the biennium into highway construction and maintenance and provides funding for safety upgrades on Ohio roadways. Sub. House Bill 54 includes provisions that aim to preserve Ohio’s vital infrastructure, promote economic development, and boost public safety. 

Sub. House Bill 54 preserves infrastructure by investing more than $393 million for new highway construction, improving the state’s transportation infrastructure for generations to come, and all with no tax or fee increases.

Major changes that were agreed upon from the Senate include:

• Removes a requirement that a contractor indemnify a railroad company against any damage that may result from contractor negligence in improving a grade separation.
• Earmarks $3,000,000/FY for Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs).
• Requires that a BMV customer present proof of U.S. citizenship during the BMV transaction or have previously presented proof of U.S. citizenship to the BMV in order to be offered voter registration.
• Authorizes a school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or a community school to own and operate or contract with a vendor that supplies a motor vehicle originally manufactured and designed to transport up to 12 passengers, including the driver, for regular student transportation.
• Requires ODOT to assist villages, with snow and ice removal, road salt application, and mowing under certain conditions.
  
  

“The Ohio House passed the Transportation Budget AFTER getting a necessary amendment in the Senate to try and protect Delaware County from a plan that will study whether to put through a new freeway across our watershed and valuable farmland. Senator Brenner and I worked with our leaders to ensure there was an alternative route north of Delaware County in the study. I remain committed to the Route 23 changes and do not support a freeway through northern Delaware County,” said Representative Lear

Sub. House Bill 54 now goes to the Governor for his signature.