Bride Rose Sweeney News

State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose today demanding that provisional ballots cast on Tuesday, April 28 be counted. Mail delays and confusion around the primary changes left some Ohio voters without a vote-by-mail ballot and no choice but to vote a provisional ballot in person on Tuesday. The three members make up the House Democratic Caucus’ COVID-19 Elections Working Group.

COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) responded to a letter from over 60 advocacy groups containing election policy recommendations for best practices, particularly in emergency situations like the country is now facing. The three representatives make up the House Democratic Caucus’ Elections Working Group which has been monitoring election challenges and crafting policy proposals to ensure elections remain safe and accessible. The coalition’s letter focused on expanding mail voting and providing adequate in-person voting opportunities, two top priorities of the House Democratic Caucus and its Elections Working Group. 

COLUMBUS— State lawmakers returned to the Statehouse today to address the COVID-19 crisis and provide immediate relief to everyday Ohioans. State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) released a statement today following the unanimous passage of an omnibus bill (HB 197) that would prohibit utility shut-offs, waive state testing requirements, freeze EdChoice eligibility, extend voting in the primary election, postpone the state income tax filing deadline among several other measures.

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today joined Democratic colleagues to outline several key priorities as lawmakers return to the Statehouse this week to take up emergency measures to address the public health and economic crises facing the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today called on Gov. Mike DeWine to use his executive authority to release funds to create a temporary, emergency paid leave program for Ohio workers affected by the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Sweeney’s call follows two letters sent this week on behalf of the caucus pushing for benefits to ensure the economic security of Ohio families.

Responding to concerns from building and fire officials, Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today announced House Bill 517 to exempt building and fire codes from newly implemented rule reduction requirements, which prohibit the adoption of a new administrative rule without simultaneously removing two other rules. 

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) announced today the introduction of House Bill (HB) 508, legislation to allow victims of domestic violence to access unemployment benefits when that individual leaves work as the result of past or ongoing abuse.

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today introduced legislation to create Automated Voter Registration in Ohio. The bill has the potential to add 1 million eligible Ohio voters to the rolls. Rep. Sweeney worked on the bill as part of a bipartisan working group including Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Senator Nathan Manning and Senator Vernon Sykes.

State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) today introduced bipartisan legislation to exempt college textbooks from state sales tax.

“Making textbooks tax-exempt is one small step toward breaking down barriers to higher education,” said Rep. Sweeney. “Since colleges often require textbooks at skyrocketing prices to complete basic courses, it is incumbent upon state legislators to act to reduce the financial burden on Ohio students.”

As Ohioans go to the polls today to cast their ballots, House Democratic Reps. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) will be introducing legislation to make Election Day a paid state holiday for Ohio workers.