Democratic News

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton), State Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and State Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Columbus) today issued the following statements after the Nov. 3 meetings of the Ohio House Government Oversight and Senate Local Government and Elections Committees, at which State Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) and State Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) presented sponsor testimony on two separate congressional map proposals:

State Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester), Ranking Member on the House Government Oversight Committee, today issued a statement as Democratic committee members objected to a proposed 13-2 congressional map in favor of Republicans. 

COLUMBUS—In response to a recent Republican press conference on community engagement with law enforcement, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today urged action on comprehensive Democratic legislation to modernize policing in Ohio, improve community-police relations and ensure the safety and security of both officers and the public. Democrats unveiled their proposals in April 2021, which are a key pillar of their Opportunity Agenda for Ohio. Democrats say many of the reforms they introduced are already working to improve policing and public safety in communities and states across the country. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on House Bill 480, Republican legislation aimed at criminalizing abortion in Ohio. The bill is modeled after controversial legislation in Texas that threatens doctors, women and anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion. 

State Reps. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo), Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), and Mike Sheehy (D-Oregon) yesterday sent a letter to Stericycle President and CEO Cindy J. Miller encouraging Stericycle to keep negotiating with employees of the Stericycle Toledo Facility who have been on strike since early October.

Government Oversight Committee Ranking Member Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) issued a statement Thursday following the committee passage of House Bill (HB) 227, GOP-backed legislation that would gut public safety laws that currently require permits for people who carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.

State Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today applauded the passage of House Bill (HB) 3, better known as Aisha’s Law, out of the Ohio House. Aisha’s Law would improve how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence cases and provides added protections for those in high-risk situations. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today applauded the House passage of Aisha’s Law, Democratic priority legislation sponsored by Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) that would better protect the safety and security for those in high-risk situations for domestic violence. Aisha’s Law would improve how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence cases and provide added protections for those in high-risk situations. 

State Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton) provided sponsor testimony today before the Ohio House State and Local Government Committee on House Bill (HB) 340, which seeks to designate September as the "International Underground Railroad Month." Rep. Blackshear is a joint sponsor of HB 340 with Rep. Adam Bird (R- New Richmond).  HB 340 seeks to recognize Ohio’s involvement in the abolitionist movement by honoring the abolitionists and freedom seekers who risked their lives fighting for equality. Following sponsor testimony, the House State and Local Government Committee unanimously passed HB 340.

State Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) today announced the Ohio House passage of House Bill (HB) 254, which would create a pathway for counties and regions to establish domestic violence fatality review boards that are tailored to meet each county and region’s needs in order to prevent further domestic violence fatalities.