Catherine D. Ingram News

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 487, the School Property Sales Fairness Act, legislation that would eliminate the right of first refusal that state law currently provides to community schools, college-preparatory boarding schools and STEM schools before public school districts put property up for auction or private sale.

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today praised the signing in to law of legislation creating a new Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) license plate in support of one of Ohio’s top school districts.

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 418, the Expediting the Transfer of Student Records Act, legislation that would require K-12 schools in Ohio to, upon request, transfer student records to another school within five school days.

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today shared news of her recent appointment as a nonvoting member of the Broadcast Educational Media Commission (BEMC).

“As an elected official and educator with over 20 years of service from the classroom to the board of education, I have seen firsthand how public broadcasting can have a positive impact on students,” said Ingram. “I am honored to have the opportunity to help advance educational outcomes and create a positive impact on students and educators through my work on the commission.”

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today introduced the Accident Victim Privacy Protection Act, legislation to prohibit the sale of personal information obtained from accident reports to prevent businesses from soliciting accident victims for profit.

“Vehicular accident reports contain significant amounts of personal information, and victims should not be subject to harassment after a car accident,” said Ingram. “The Accident Victim Privacy Protection Act will help prevent ‘ambulance chasers’ from purchasing this information, protecting victims’ identities and putting a stop to repeated calls from companies trying to make an extra buck.”

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today introduced legislation with Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) to create a new Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) license plate in support of one of Ohio’s top school districts.

“For almost 200 years, Cincinnati Public Schools have educated, inspired and prepared generations to be civic-minded, intelligent and socially aware citizens,” said Ingram. “CPS is a diverse and historic district that serves 35,000 Cincinnati-area students every year, and deserves strong community support. I am proud to introduce legislation to help benefit this wonderful district.”

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today announced her position on the updated Ohio Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in September.

Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, is the federal requirement for states to submit plans regarding the use of federal educational funding for school curriculum.

“After several revision and updates, there is still much work to do, and Ohio’s ESSA proposal is not perfect,” said Ingram. “However, there has been some improvement in the overall plan, and there is now much more agreement in certain sections of the proposal than there was during the debates in April.”

Every State educational agency had the choice to submit its ESSA proposal in either April or September. Ohio’s plan is being prepared to submit by the September deadline.

Ohio’s ESSA plan can be viewed online at www.educationa.ohio.gov/ESSA.

In a political effort to hamstring Ohio House Democratic lawmakers in a pro-gun, anti-gun debate today on the House floor, Republicans brought forward House Bill (HB) 233 for a vote, legislation that allows concealed carry permit holders to knowingly bring guns or deadly weapons into daycares, schools, airports, bars and other restricted spaces, so long as the permit holder leaves when asked to do so. Individuals who refuse to leave or return to the same business while carrying a prohibited weapon within 30 days will be subject to a fourth degree misdemeanor.

“I am against this legislation as it flies in the face of common sense, and endangers our communities that are already grappling with the problem of gun violence,” said Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati). “We should be seeking solutions, not creating problems.”

Today, the Republican-controlled Ohio House of Representatives overrode eleven items Governor John Kasich vetoed in the recently passed state budget, House Bill (HB) 49. Under the House’s overrides, Medicaid expansion will have to be reauthorized through the state Controlling Board and new taxes on working people could be put in place as a condition of healthcare coverage – if the Senate takes up the House overrides.

“Even though we did not take up the Medicaid expansion freeze explicitly, a back door freeze has been put in place through threats of increased fees and premiums,” said Rep. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati). “Ohioans deserve better than this budget that the legislature continues to pick apart. We should not prioritize the wealthiest at the expense of the poor and working class.”

State Rep. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today applauded the House passage of House Bill (HB) 195, bipartisan legislation to improve the transportation options of Ohioans in wheelchairs. The “Improving Mobility Aid Accessibility” bill, joint-sponsored by State Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), passed unanimously out of the House yesterday by a 91-0 vote. 

“I am grateful my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agreed with me that all Ohioans deserve equal access to the transportation options that best meets their needs,” said Ingram. “House Bill 195 will improve the lives of Ohioans who use wheelchairs by expanding their transportation options to include taxies or newer services like Lyft and Uber, making it easier and less expensive for them to get to medical appointments and other important engagements.”