Members are required by the state constitution to reside in their respective districts for at least one year before being eligible to be elected that district's legislator.
Members may not hold another state, federal or local public office while serving in the House.
Members have a variety of backgrounds. There are dentists, teachers, farmers, business persons, lawyers and retailers.
The first Speaker of the Ohio House was Michael Baldwin.
The first year women served in the Ohio House was 1923-24. The four women members were Mrs. Nettie Clapp, Mrs. Lu Lu Gleason, Mrs. C.J. Ott & Mrs. May Van Wye.
The first African American to serve in the Ohio House was George W. Williams, 1879-1881.
The first woman to serve 11 consecutive terms - Ethel Swanbeck, 1955-1976.
The first African American woman to serve in the Ohio House - Helen Rankin, 1978-1994.
The first woman Speaker of the Ohio House - Jo Ann Davidson, 1995- 2000.
The longest serving speaker in Ohio House History - Vern Riffe, 1975-1994.