Democratic News

State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 133, bipartisan legislation joint-sponsored by Rep. Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) that will allow for the issuing of temporary occupational licenses to active duty service members and their spouses living in Ohio as a result of undergoing a permanent change of station.

Assistant Minority Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and Rep. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) introduced legislation designed to protect victims of sexual violence in Ohio in a joint press conference with state Sens. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Columbus) this afternoon at the Ohio Statehouse. The proposed legislation recognizes that health care professionals who use their status of trust and power to violate people under their care and supervision must have enhanced consequences. 

State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 277, bipartisan legislation with Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) to implement mandatory recordings of suspect interrogations statewide for some of the most serious crimes, such as homicide and sexual assault cases. The two lawmakers unveiled their proposal at a press conference this morning with supporters from the Ohio Public Defenders office and the Ohio Innocence Project.

“The more transparency and accountability we can provide, the more trust Ohioans will have in our judicial and criminal justice systems,” said Rep. West. “This bill is just one piece of a bigger puzzle in ensuring all Ohioans are treated fairly, and feel safe and secure at home.”

State Rep. Thomas E. West (D-Canton) this week announced the passage of House Bill (HB) 12, his bipartisan legislation with Rep. Don Manning (R-New Middletown) to create the Ohio Children’s Behavioral Health Network. The network would bring together a diverse group of experts to develop evidence- and outcome-based solutions to improve the mental health of children and young adults across Ohio, with a special focus on prevention.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the passing of longtime Dispatch Statehouse reporter Jim Siegel:

State Reps. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) recently introduced legislation that would create a competitive $15 million grant program for Ohio airports to attract additional international and domestic direct flights in the state.

State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 4, his bipartisan bill alongside Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) to help streamline the process of developing industry-recognized credential and certificate programs.

State Reps. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 8, their bipartisan bill to simplify Ohio’s foster caregiver training laws. With the number of displaced children increasing—in part because of opioid related deaths and offenses—Ohio’s foster care system is struggling with the volume and cost of placing children in foster care.

Ohio House Democratic lawmakers today applauded the passage of House Bill (HB) 80, the two-year state Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) budget, which contained a number of Democratic priorities, including benefits for first responders with PTSD and reforms to the state’s employee misclassification laws.

Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) andHouse Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today issued a statement following Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s announced support for ending the state’s statute of limitations on rape. Boggs and Galonski are sponsoring a proposal this legislative session to modernize Ohio’s rape code, including lifting the statute of limitations on rape. 

Central Ohio House Democratic lawmakers, including Assistant Minority Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and Reps. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester), Erica Crawley (D-Columbus), David Leland (D-Columbus), Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), Beth Liston (D-Dublin), Adam Miller (D-Columbus), and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), today issued a statement in support of the nearly 500,000 LGBTQ taxpaying Ohioans who call the Buckeye State home. The statement follows controversial remarks from House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), regarding the permissive use of libraries for LGBTQ events.

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and fellow House Democrats today sent a letter* to the Ohio Department of Medicaid asking them to investigate the declining number of children insured by Medicaid.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the passage of House Bill (HB) 6:

“This was not an easy vote for some of our Democratic members, including myself,” said Rep. Sykes. “Democrats will always stand with hard-working Ohioans over corporations. HB 6 was never a Democratic bill; it was never even a bipartisan, compromise bill. It was yet another example of the Majority Party playing games, forcing impossible choices between protecting the environment and keeping food on the table for 1,400 workers and their families. I hope that the companies who receive the taxpayer dollars from HB 6 will honor their promise to protect the jobs at both nuclear plants and support these workers’ continued employment.”   

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and other Democratic lawmakers today issued a statement following Amazon’s announcement of more than 1500 jobs coming to Akron.  

State Reps. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) and Phil Robinson (D-Solon) today issued a joint statement applauding Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a provision within the state budget, House Bill 166, that would have limited the ability of certain school districts to raise operating funds through local property taxes. 

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following more than two-dozen budget bill vetoes by Gov. Mike DeWine.

“While he didn’t address all of our concerns, the governor did veto some problematic tax language Democrats opposed that would have made it harder for Ohio communities to deliver essential services and adequately fund their local school districts to give teachers and students the tools they need to succeed.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the passage of the state budget, House Bill 166. The vote follows more than two weeks of Republican dysfunction and gridlock, which forced lawmakers to pass a short-term funding extension before finally compromising on a long-term deal late Tuesday. Sykes also sent a letter* to Governor DeWine on behalf of House Democrats urging him to veto several provisions in the bill they believe are not in the best interest of everyday Ohioans.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced the launch of the Ohio Promise Tour, a statewide legislative town hall series hosted by House Democratic members to discuss the state budget, bipartisan priorities and a number of recent Democratic-led wins for working people and families.

State Rep. Randi Clites (D-Ravenna) and students at Kent State University today responded to a notification the university released Thursday informing students of a delay in issuing tuition bills due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the passage of the Ohio state budget.

“As legislators, it is our constitutional duty to pass a long-term budget by June 30. Interim budgets bring uncertainty and break the promise we made to taxpayers to do so. The delay in billing at Kent State shows the detrimental effects of missing the budget deadline has had on all Ohioans, including students who rely on financial aid and student loans,” said Rep. Clites. “In a state with one-party rule, we should not be putting Ohio students and families in such an uncertain position. I am committed to working together to get this done and I call on Statehouse Republicans to do the same.”

House Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today called on state lawmakers to recover funds lost by Ohio libraries during the ongoing 17-day temporary budget extension. Ohio’s public library systems have lost thousands of dollars under the bill, and stand to lose more if Republican lawmakers cannot reach a long-term deal by July 17.

Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced the selection of Amber Epling as Communications Director for the House Democratic Caucus.

House Democratic lawmakers from across Ohio today sent a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose seeking information from his office about the impact of moving the 2020 presidential primary from March 10 to March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. See the letter below.