Democratic News

State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) today announced that House Bill (HB) 308, legislation to allow first responders diagnosed with work-related PTSD in the absence of any physical injury to qualify for BWC compensation and benefits, was signed into law Jan. 9 by the governor. This is something Democrats have prioritized in recent General Assemblies. 

State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) today announced that House Bill (HB) 67, her bill to create the Veterinarian Student Debt Assistance Program, was signed into law Saturday by the governor. 

State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today recognized the recent release of the State of Ohio’s first annual survey on workforce diversity within each state agency by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS). DAS is required to release the survey annually under current law because of an amendment West secured to House Bill (HB) 166, which established the 2020-2021 state budget. The survey results indicate the State needs to take close look at gender and racial pay inequity, the racial breakdown of applicants advancing in the next step of hiring process, and inequities in gender participation. West renewed longstanding calls from House Democrats for the State to take meaningful action to address inequities in pay, gender, and race in the workforce. 

State Rep. Michael O’Brien (D-Warren) today announced that Gov. DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 264, a bipartisan bill that provides for the refinancing of loans for certain public water and wastewater infrastructure projects, into law on Jan. 9. The bill passed both the House and the Senate unanimously in the 133rd General Assembly.

State Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) today announced that House Bill (HB) 1, her criminal justice reform legislation to modify the requirements for intervention in lieu of conviction and for sealing criminal records, was signed into law yesterday night. 

State Representative Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine asking his office to remove Susan Block from the board of the Ohio Arts Council. This move follows a controversial post made by Block on social media claiming the presidential election was stolen from President Trump and calling the Vice President-Elect a derogatory term.

“As a public official and citizen of the United States and Ohio, I am absolutely outraged by this week’s attempted coup at our nation’s capital. Watching the attack unfold live on our TV during what should have been a traditional exercise and ceremony in counting the votes of all the states must be called what it is: domestic terrorism. 

“The attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol by terrorists is the direct result of Republicans undermining the very democratic institutions and principles that they were elected to and swore to protect and uphold. The shallow words from so-called ‘leaders’ like U.S. Senator Rob Portman, Gov. Mike DeWine, GOP Chairman Jane Timken, and all the others is nothing but a sham to cover their own complicity.  

COLUMBUS– Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Mike DeWine signing Senate Bill (SB) 175, dangerous legislation that would allow the use of deadly force by any individual who feels their life is in danger:

State Representative Stephanie Howse (D- Cleveland) today condemned the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 175, Shoot First legislation that would permit the use of deadly force by individuals who believe their lives are endangered anywhere in the state. Democrats spoke against the extreme Shoot First bill in late December, saying it will threaten Black lives and makes Ohioans less safe.

State Rep. and Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today released the following statement looking to the future and reflecting on the 2019 OLBC Legislative Day of Action held today at the Statehouse:

“For too many in our communities, Ohio’s promise of opportunity is fading. The annual OLBC Day of Action empowers our community to use their voices to hold their elected officials accountable and demand change on the issues that keep working people and families from getting ahead.

State Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus) today released the following statement in response to the report on clean energy jobs in the Midwest released Tuesday by the Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2):

“We are the first generation to understand the human causes of climate change—and the last generation to be able to stop it. The results of this report are clear: clean energy powers Ohio’s economy, creates good paying jobs and contributes to a cleaner environment and happier, healthier families and communities.

State Rep. Janine R. Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights), the highest ranking Democrat on the House Health Committee, issued the following statement after GOP lawmakers rejected Democratic efforts to include protections for Ohio women in Senate Bill (SB) 23, a bill that would implement a near-total ban on abortion in Ohio.

“I submit to citizens that this bill is not about ‘life.’ It proposes that the state will force nearly all pregnant women to carry their pregnancies to term, regardless of how that might threaten her health and her economic security, and it erodes the fundamental freedom we all have as Americans to make important medical and health decisions.” 

State Rep. Janine R. Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights), Ranking Member of the House Health Committee, sent a letter Wednesday to the committee chairman demanding more hearings on Senate Bill (SB) 23, the six-week abortion ban, which was rushed through committee this week during the busiest part of the state budget season. Boyd also seeks explanations of last-minute changes in the latest version of the bill. She issued the following statement: 

State Reps. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) and Shane Wilkin (R-Piketon) announced the House passage of House Bill 85 today, which creates a methodology for Ohio counties to petition the State for additional funding in capital cases which exceed a threshold that might otherwise place the county in financial distress, if not fiscal ruin. 

Described by Rep. Rogers and Rep. Wilkin as one of Ohio’s largest homicide investigations, the costs associated with prosecuting the recent capital crimes in Pike County could exceed $5 million. Pike County, with a annual budget of less than $10 million, is nevertheless mandated to enforce Ohio law, pursue justice on behalf of the State, and hold those responsible to account.   

“Ohio is charged with a great responsibility – to seek justice, to protect the rights of its citizens, and protect our communities, all the while ensuring that those who commit horrendous acts of violence, including murder, are held accountable,” Rogers said.

House Assistant Minority Whip and state Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) today sent a letter to Republican Governor Mike DeWine urging him to veto provisions in House Bill (HB) 62, the state’s two-year transportation budget, that would penalize cities using traffic safety cameras.

State Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) and Randi Clites (D-Ravenna) today during a Statehouse news conference introduced the Ohio Equal Pay Act, legislation to recognize the full value and potential of Ohio’s working women. The announcement comes as advocates mark ‘Equal Pay Day’ across America, the date to which women must work to make up for the lost wages relative to their male counterparts.

House Democrats 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.

“Democrats were able to come together to make historic investments to improve public transit and allow local communities to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges,” said House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron). “I am encouraged that moving forward we can continue to work together to put people and communities first to restore the promise of our state.”

State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) today announced the unanimous House passage of House Bill (HB) 61, her bipartisan bill alongside joint sponsor Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) to make sensitive personal information of certain mental health workers and their families exempt from disclosure under Ohio’s public records law.

State Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 18, the Ohio Veterans’ Exemption Payment Act, her bipartisan bill alongside Rep. A. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) to exemptveterans’ disability severance payments from the state income tax.