Richard D. Brown News

COLUMBUS— State lawmakers returned to the Statehouse today to address the COVID-19 crisis and provide immediate relief to everyday Ohioans. State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) released a statement today following the unanimous passage of an omnibus bill (HB 197) that would prohibit utility shut-offs, waive state testing requirements, freeze EdChoice eligibility, extend voting in the primary election, postpone the state income tax filing deadline among several other measures.

House Assistant Minority Whip Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today joined Democratic colleagues to outline several key priorities as lawmakers return to the Statehouse this week to take up emergency measures to address the public health and economic crises facing the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assistant Minority Whip Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today joined colleagues in applauding the passage of House Bill 308, which would allow first responders diagnosed with work-related PTSD in the absence of any physical injury to qualify for BWC compensation and benefits, something Democrats have prioritized in recent General Assemblies.

State Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today issued a statement on the state legislature’s duty to work together to address senseless gun violence and keep all Ohioans safe and secure in the wake of a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio this past weekend:

State Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today announced the upcoming back-to-school Ohio sales tax holiday that will be in effect from Friday, August 2 until Sunday, August 4. In 2018, state lawmakers passed legislation making this three-day, back-to-school sales tax holiday a recurring holiday each year.

“The upcoming sales tax holiday will help families in House District 20, and across the state, save some of their hard earned dollars while shopping for back-to-school supplies,” said Brown. “This tax holiday will be a major relief for working Ohio families, and I am proud of the work we did to ensure that it remains a permeant holiday in our state.”

State Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today announced the upcoming back-to-school Ohio sales tax holiday that will be in effect from Friday, August 2 until Sunday, August 4. In 2018, state lawmakers passed legislation making this three-day, back-to-school sales tax holiday a recurring holiday each year.

“The upcoming sales tax holiday will help families in House District 20, and across the state, save some of their hard earned dollars while shopping for back-to-school supplies,” said Brown. “This tax holiday will be a major relief for working Ohio families, and I am proud of the work we did to ensure that it remains a permanent holiday in our state.”

Ohio House Assistant Minority Whip Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) today criticized the House and Senate Majority leadership for their inability to strike a budget deal before the constitutionally-mandated June 30 deadline.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced the election of Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) as Minority Whip and Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) as Assistant Minority Whip for the 133^rd General Assembly. Brown joins the Democratic leadership team after former Whip Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) stepped down last week.

“I want to thank Rep. Smith for his service to this leadership team and dedication to strengthening our caucus. I know he will continue to use that same vigor to fight on behalf of his constituents here at the Statehouse,” said Leader Sykes. “I look forward to welcoming Rep. Brown into our leadership team and continuing working with Rep. Hicks-Hudson as we move Ohio forward and restore our 

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 Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) introduced legislation this week to increase awareness of and access to audio prescription label readers for those who are blind or have vision impairments. House Bill (HB) 214 would require pharmacies in Ohio to provide label readers upon request for at least the duration of a prescription.

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.