Bipartisan Legislation Advancing Life-Saving Naloxone Access in Ohio Schools Unanimously Passes House Education Committee

COLUMBUS — Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Majority Whip Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) Tuesday announced that their bipartisan House Bill (HB) 57 passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee. The bill will ensure that schools opting to supply overdose-reversal drugs like naloxone have clear policies for their use, storage, and reporting.

"Our children are growing up in a world none of us imagined — a world where a single, unintended exposure can have deadly consequences," said Rep. Jarrells. "House Bill 57 is about equipping our schools with the tools they need to save lives and protect Ohio's future."

HB 57 is a direct response to the rising number of youth overdoses in Ohio, including the case of a 14-year-old Toledo student who was revived with Narcan after an in-school overdose. Under the bill, schools that choose to maintain a naloxone supply must implement policies to ensure the medication is stored securely, accessible in emergencies, and administered properly. Schools may also accept monetary donations to support the purchase of overdose-reversal drugs. 

The urgency for this legislation is underscored by alarming statistics: overdose deaths among 10–19-year-olds more than doubled nationally between 2019 and 2021. Organizations such as the American Medical Association have called for expanded naloxone access in schools as a commonsense, life-saving measure.

Advocates from across Ohio, including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, testified in support of House Bill 57, emphasizing the bill's importance in providing reassurance to families navigating the opioid crisis.

House Bill 57 now heads to the House floor for a vote.