Dontavius L. Jarrells News

COLUMBUS—Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) will be introducing legislation removing additional derogatory language within the state’s code. This legislation will be continuation of the work started by House Bill 158 in the 131st General Assembly, which replaced references to “mentally retarded person” in the Ohio Revised Code.

Today, Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) signed on as a co-sponsor to the Ohio Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans from discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations. A previous version of the Ohio Fairness Act (The Equal Housing and Employment Act) passed the Ohio House of Representatives on Sept. 15, 2009, with bipartisan support. Last General Assembly, the Ohio Fairness Act had 3 hearings but did not receive a committee vote.

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and House Democratic lawmakers Wednesday voted in opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 22, controversial Republican legislation that would threaten the health and safety of Ohioans by curbing authority from the governor and health director during public health crises. 

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) issued a statement following the passage of House Bill (HB) 74, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Democrats fought against the governor’s proposed cuts to public transit funding in the bill, securing $193.7 million over the next two years, double the governor’s proposed investment. Rep. Jarrells voted in favor of the bill, which now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Today, Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) applauded the House passage of legislation that would allow more health professionals to administer the coronavirus vaccine, extend professional licenses and help low-income Ohioans pay for utilities amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) released the following statement today on his committee assignments for the 134th General Assembly:

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) marked the start of Black History Month today by announcing he will soon introduce legislation to designate Columbus’ Poindexter Village as an official Ohio Historical Site. Jarrells says adding Poindexter Village to the Ohio History Connection’s network of historic places will help celebrate Ohio’s Black history by telling the story of the state’s Black communities in the mid-20th century.

COLUMBUS— Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus), Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Rep. Dontavius Jarells (D-Columbus) today issued statements regarding the removal of Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan on Thursday at the recommendation of Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, following two recent police-involved shooting deaths of Black men in Columbus.

Reps. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) and Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and state Sens. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) today urged fellow lawmakers to sign onto their legislation that would increase Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027. In their co-sponsor request memos, the Democratic lawmakers said that raising wages for working Ohioans will bring more economic security and stability to millions of Ohioans living paycheck to paycheck and boost the long-term health of the state’s economy.

With the 134th General Assembly officially underway, House Democrats today welcomed freshman members Reps. Willis Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton), Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus), Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick) and Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park) to the Democratic caucus.