Democratic News

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. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) today announced the House Democratic screening panel tasked with finding a replacement for the 63^rd House district seat, previously held by Glenn Holmes (D-Girard), has recommended Gil Blair (D-Weathersfield) to fill the remainder of Holmes’s term.

House Democratic lawmakers today largely voted against House Bill (HB) 6, legislation to bail out several energy corporations and all but eliminate energy efficiency and renewable energy standards in Ohio.