Democratic News

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. 

State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine encouraging Ohio to use Federal funding received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand supportive and affordable housing for Ohioans in need.

Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) and Juanita O. Brent (D-Cleveland) testified before the House Insurance Committee Wednesday on House Bill (HB) 416, their legislation that would promote financial security and stability for Ohioans after they retire. The bill would create The Ohio Retirement Savings Program (ORSP), a supplemental pension plan in addition to Social Security benefits. 

Ohio Redistricting Commission member and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) Monday sent a letter to House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) and Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) requesting the General Assembly take the necessary steps to be able to consider congressional district maps should the Ohio Redistricting Commission fail to approve maps by their Oct. 31 deadline. 

Today, Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) was named the Ranking Member of the House Finance Committee. She fills the role formerly held by Erica C. Crawley, now a Franklin County Commissioner. Rep. Sweeney becomes likely the youngest-ever Ranking Member on the powerful Finance Committee.

Today, State Representatives Jeffrey Crossman (D-Parma) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) filed legislation to strengthen the accountability over charter school operators. This is a re-filed version of the legislation first filed during the 133rd General Assembly as House Bill 549.

House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today outlining the caucus’s next steps to expand on the Opportunity Agenda for Ohio, their legislative framework to restore Ohio’s promise of better lives, brighter futures and economy that works for everyone. They released a short list of key legislative priorities in the coming months, including delivering fair maps, combatting the coronavirus pandemic and reforming the state’s broken unemployment insurance system. 

Amid widespread criticism of House Bill 6, legislation that ends renewable energy standards and increases consumer and business taxes by some $300 million per year, House Democrats this week will hold their own caucus-wide review of the fast-tracked proposal.

State Reps. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township)  today announced the introduction of the Reagan Tokes Act, which will implement new standards to improve the monitoring of violent offenders.  This bill follows the passage of House Bill 365, also known as the Reagan Tokes Act, last year which created indefinite prison sentencing standards for violent offenders. The bill is named for Reagan Tokes, a student at The Ohio State University who was brutally kidnapped, raped and killed after leaving work at a Columbus restaurant in 2017. 

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today issued a statement following a press conference announcing the creation of a bipartisan working group to study the potential for automated voter registration in Ohio. 

State Reps. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 208, bipartisan legislation to secure protections for sports officials. The bill would bring the penalty for assaulting a referee on the job or in retaliation for a prior incident in line with current legislation protecting teachers, school administrators and bus drivers.

“As a referee for 20 years and as a coach, participant and parent, I understand the power of athletic competition to bring people together and teach important life skills,” said Rep. Miller. “However, sometimes emotions run high and tempers flare during competition. It’s important that we support our officials and send a message that physical confrontations are never an acceptable recourse.”

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.”

As Black Maternal Health Week 2019 comes to a close, House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and state Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today announced the initial meeting of the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus, the state’s first-ever group of state lawmakers dedicated to improving black maternal health across the state. Members will meet in Columbus early next month to discuss the group’s mission and shared vision to strengthen Ohio women, children, families and communities.

House Democrats today announced a series of proposals to modernize Ohio’s tax system to benefit working people, families and small businesses. The comprehensive plan would put more than $400 million back in the pockets of working people, seniors and families in each of the next two years, a move that Democrats say will bring growth and investment to Ohio.

State Reps. Janine R. Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) and Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today announced the creation of Ohio’s first ever Black Maternal Health Caucus, a group of state lawmakers dedicated to improve black maternal health outcomes across the state.

COLUMBUS—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.

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.