Mary Lightbody News

Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) announced that the state Controlling Board approved several items this week, including the establishment of the State Fiscal Recovery Fund, which will allow Ohio to accept an estimated $5.5 billion under the recently passed American Rescue Plan (ARP) to support Ohioans during the COVID-19 pandemic and aid the state’s economic recovery once appropriated.

State Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today urged constituents to proceed with caution after Franklin County was upgraded to Level Four or “Purple” on Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System.  Purple is the highest-level rating on the advisory system and indicates severe exposure and spread of COVID-19 in the county. 

COLUMBUS—Today, House Bill (HB) 145, legislation sponsored by State Reps. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) and Andrea White (R-Kettering) to increase childcare assistance income eligibility, received a second hearing in the House Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee.

COLUMBUS— Today, Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) signed on as a co-sponsor to a resolution that the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus (OBMHC) is introducing to recognize Black Maternal Health Week in Ohio. Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) is an annual event that promotes awareness and seeks to advance and improve Black maternal health outcomes across the country.

Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), today applauded the House passage of Senate Bill (SB) 18, legislation to implement key provisions of the American Rescue Plan to benefit working people and middle-class families, including excluding the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits from income tax for more than 2 million Ohioans who lost jobs during the pandemic.  The bill includes many long-held Democratic priorities to expand tax cuts for lower and working class families and to  expand credits for child care, as well as provisions from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 among other changes.

State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today issued statements on President Joe Biden’s visit to Ohio, where the president will speak on the anniversary and importance of the Affordable Care Act at The Ohio State University’s James Cancer Center.

Today, State Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) 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. 

Today, Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) 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.

State Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) Thursday voted in favor of House Bill (HB) 67, legislation to adjust state testing requirements for the 2020-21 school year. Democrats did say, however, that more needs to be done to support students and teachers during the pandemic.

State Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today issued a statement after House Republicans introduced an amended version of House Bill 74, the state’s two-year transportation budget, that strips Hands-Free Ohio safe driving provisions from the bill. Hands-Free Ohio would increase safety on Ohio roadways by limiting distracted driving.