Dontavius L. Jarrells News

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) Wednesday voted “NO” on House Bill (HB) 96, the Republican-crafted state operating budget, citing cruel and chaotic cuts and its abject failure to invest in children, public education, healthcare, and basic services – all while shoveling billions to the wealthy and well-connected. 

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Majority Whip Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) today held a press conference introducing bipartisan legislation to reimburse state employees for out-of-pocket costs associated with GLP-1 drugs—medications commonly prescribed for chronic weight management and other metabolic conditions.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and State Rep. Veronica Sims (D-Akron) this week reintroduced the End Slavery in Ohio Act, which would amend Ohio’s constitution to remove the statement “unless for the punishment of crime” from its language.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) alongside fellow members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) today held a press conference honoring Juneteenth and the ongoing struggle for Black liberation and calling attention to critical legislative efforts to advance justice in Ohio.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) today announced that the Ohio Controlling Board allocated $38K in funding to support a local residential school for people with developmental disabilities.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) today announced that the Ohio Controlling Board allocated $1.9M in funding to support local housing, building infrastructure in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and State Rep. Melanie Miller (R- Ashland) today delivered sponsor testimony before the Ohio House Arts, Athletics, and Tourism Committee on House Bill (HB) 255. The bipartisan legislation would create The Ohio Sports Commission, consisting of a board of commissioners, to enhance the quality of life in Ohio through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports.  

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana), along with environmental advocates and community partners, held a press conference Wednesday reintroducing Ohio’s Lead Line Replacement Act. The bipartisan legislation would require the removal of lead from Ohio’s drinking water systems by eliminating lead water service lines within 15 years.

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and State Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) Wednesday delivered sponsor testimony before the Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee on House Bill (HB) 225, the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act. The bipartisan legislation would phase out the subminimum wage for individuals with physical or mental disabilities, to authorize a tax credit for purchases made from nonprofit corporations that hire such individuals. 

COLUMBUS – Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) today released the following statement after Wednesday’s Ballot Board meeting that advanced the Citizens for Property Tax Reform’s proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio: