Representative Beth Liston - District 21

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), Ranking Member on the House Health Committee, and Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) issued statements today after Republicans forced the House Health Committee passage of House Bill (HB) 435, anti-vaccine legislation that would expand exemptions for students and public or private employees required to get the COVID-19 vaccine. HB 435 would also grant corporations partial legal immunity from COVID-19 related law suits. The bill was passed along party lines with no opportunity for proponent or opponent testimony. 

Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including the allocation of  $175.3 million in federal funds to improve the processing of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims to support Ohioans who lost their jobs during the pandemic through no fault of their own.

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin) issued statements today after the Ohio House Health Committee held another hearing for House Bill 248, controversial anti-vaccine legislation that would prohibit schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and all other employers from requiring or requesting that employees get any vaccine. HB 248 would also prohibit colleges and universities from requiring that students living on-campus disclose their vaccination status and forbid private businesses from requiring that customers receive any vaccine.

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin) issued statements today after Gov. DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 244 into law. Originally introduced in March 2021 as a bill regarding education for military families, Republicans added an amendment to HB 244 that will prohibit public schools or universities from requiring any vaccine has not received full authorization from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). All the COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in the U.S. have been granted emergency, but not full, approval.  Full approval is anticipated in the coming months.