Kent Smith News

House Democratic lawmakers today voted in favor of the state budget, House Bill 166, which includes a number of key Democratic priorities, including a significant tax cut for working people and families.

House Democrats today announced the House passage of House Bill (HB) 154, a bipartisan effort to end state takeovers of local schools and restore control to local education officials. The bill comes amid questions of accountability, transparency and lackluster results from district takeovers in Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland.

State Reps. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) today announced the introduction of House Bill 202, legislation to create an Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Study tasked with setting statewide EV infrastructure standards to encourage investment and economic growth. The lawmakers’ announcement follows the state’s approval of EV registration fee increases and a new report lauding Ohio’s potential as a national leader in clean jobs growth.

“If we don’t plan for our future now, we risk being left out of the economic growth and opportunity that comes with clean energy investment,” said Smith. “We need a blueprint that recognizes our potential as a clean jobs leader and builds on that foundation to keep us economically competitive nationally and globally.”

House Democrats today voted against Senate Bill (SB) 23, a GOP-backed near-total abortion ban that would prohibit abortions in Ohio long before most women know they are pregnant. SB 23 would become the most extreme abortion ban in the country if signed into law.

House Minority Whip and state Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today supported the final passage of House Bill (HB) 62, the state’s bipartisan two-year transportation budget. The bill makes historic investments in public transit and local communities for road and bridge repairs. 

House Democratic lawmakers today voted in favor of House Bill (HB) 62, the state’s bipartisan, two-year budget that largely funds road and bridge improvements and public transportation throughout the state.

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today joined Democratic lawmakers to unveil the Ohio Promise, a blueprint to renew the Buckeye State’s promise of better jobs and brighter futures.

State Reps. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and Steve Hambley (R-Brunswick) today introduced legislation, House Bill 127, to stop the state from taking over additional local school districts and privatizing local school boards. The legislation follows the controversial state takeovers of Youngstown City Schools, Lorain City Schools, and, most recently, East Cleveland City Schools. Ohio Department of Education reviews of these districts post-takeover show the districts are still failing to meet key state education standards.

“House Bill 70, which created state takeovers, was poorly designed, rushed into law, and done with zero public input,” said Rep. Smith. “School districts that were headed in the right direction have had their voices silenced, their students harmed, and their communities upended by a ‘Columbus’knows-best’ approach that has made the situation worse, not better.”

State Rep. Kent Smith (D–Euclid) took the oath of office today during the opening session of the 133^rd Ohio General Assembly at the Ohio Statehouse, starting his third term as state lawmaker.

To begin the 133^rd session of the House, Rep. Smith voted on a number of measures that allow the House to officially begin business, including the election of House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), and the approval of resolutions related to honoring the American flag during session, the creation of new House rules, and the administration of House personnel.

“While Democratic Statehouse candidates received almost 50% of the vote for seats in the 133^rd General Assembly, due to partisan gerrymandering, Democrats only won 38 of 99 possible seats on November 6^th.  Due to that failure of democracy in Ohio, no Democratic candidate was available for Speaker of the Ohio House,” said Rep. Smith.  “I chose to cast my vote for Rep. Larry Householder because of his public support of organized labor.  I believe the most important part of the American and Ohio economy is a healthy middle class.  Research indicates that union membership helps sustain and protect middle class wages for all families be they union members or not.  “

State Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today urged members of the House State and Local Government Committee to take a major step toward protecting the health and safety of all Ohioans by approving House Joint Resolution (HJR) 14. The measure proposes a constitutional amendment that would generate funding for local water infrastructure projects by permitting the state to issue up to $1 billion in additional general obligation bonds.