Kent Smith News

COLUMBUS –Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) issued a statement following the final 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 more than $221 million over the next two years, more than doubling the governor’s proposed investment. 

Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) joined House Democrats today to vote opposition to a motion to override the governor’s veto of 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.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) signed on as a co-sponsor to House Democratic priority legislation to declare racism a public health crisis. Previously introduced in the 133rd General Assembly as HCR 31, the resolution provides meaningful action steps to address racial health disparities and begin to dismantle systemic racism in Ohio. 

COLUMBUS— Today, Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) 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.

COLUMBUS— State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) testified this week on House Bill (HB) 100, his bipartisan legislation with Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) to abolish the practice of state takeovers of public school districts.  The legislation follows the controversial state takeovers of Youngstown City Schools, Lorain City Schools, and East Cleveland City Schools which have created more problems than benefits. Ohio Department of Education (ODE) reviews of these districts post-takeover indicate that the takeovers have not led to better educational outcomes for students, and often, gains made by these districts have been lost.

Assistant Minority Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), the top Democrat on the House Public Utilities Committee, issued statements Wednesday on the passage of House Bill (HB) 128, legislation to repeal parts of HB 6 from the 133rd General Assembly (GA). 

House Democratic lawmakers Reps. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland), Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights), Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma), Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland), Phil Robinson (D-Solon), Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood), Kent Smith (D-Euclid), Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park), Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland), and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) issued the following statement as the Biden administration announced today that Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center has been chosen as a mass vaccination site, with the ability to administer 6,000 vaccine doses each day over eight weeks beginning March 17. 

Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) 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. Smith voted in favor of the bill, which now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) was selected by The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators as the 2021 Ohio State Lead. This position reflects a continued sense of dedication to environmental issues in Ohio and a demonstrated leadership role within the Caucus.