Rep. Brent condemns committee passage of GOP bill to override health director, allow county fairs during pandemic

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) condemned today’s passage of Senate Bill (SB) 375 by the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. SB 375 would void the Ohio Department of Health Director’s order limiting county fairs to junior fair activities and animal exhibitions issued on July 30, 2020. The bill was passed out of committee along party lines.

“This bill would undermine the State Health Director’s orders, setting the precedent that guidance from our public health officials is not important,” said Rep. Brent. “In order to keep the Ohio Promise, we must do everything in our power to keep all Ohioans safe and secure. We all want to reopen our economy and hold county fairs again, but that can’t happen unless we stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Under the Health Director’s statutory authority, the Director may make special orders to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious disease. In an effort to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has resulted in the worst public health and economic crisis Ohio has faced in decades, the Health Director issued an order on July 30, 2020 impacting county fairs. This order included limiting county fairs to junior fair activities and animal exhibitions, implementing several measures to practice social distancing, and issuing a 10 PM curfew for Ohio county fairs.