Karen Brownlee News

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) and Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar) last week introduced bipartisan House Bill (HB) 718 that expands certification pathways for Qualified Mental Health Specialists (QMHS), who provide support services for better mental health outcomes, including care coordination, case management, and client skill building for improved daily functioning. formalizes certification of this currently unlicensed position, which will increase consumer protections, reduce credentialing red tape, and create consistency for QMH training and development standards.

COLUMBUS –  State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) last week announced that the Ohio Controlling Board approved $200k in capital funds for Qualz.ai, a Loveland-based company, to commercialize their AI voice interview platform for commercial settings. 

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) and Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) today introduced a bill that requires private insurance companies in Ohio to cover telehealth for outpatient mental health services. House Bill (HB) 709 fills an important gap at a time when Ohio is facing an unprecedented shortage of mental health providers.

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) today introduced the Community and Police Protection Act to ensure safety and transparency for all parties involved in arrest proceedings. The Community and Police Protection Act (House Bill 691) mandates that local, state, and Federal law enforcement may not conceal their faces during arrests for the sole purpose of concealing their identities. Not only is this measure a safety necessity for individuals facing arrest, but it also reinforces trust in local and Federal law enforcement agencies.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House Democratic Caucus today held a press conference discussing a legislative package of eight bills and resolutions aimed at protecting Ohio families, safeguarding due process, and ensuring accountability related to recent federal immigration enforcement activity impacting communities across the state. 

COLUMBUS –  State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) today announced that the Ohio Controlling Board approved $264K in capital funds for the purpose of replacing a chiller at the Cincinnati State Workforce Development Center (WDC) located at the Evendale Campus. 

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Jewish Caucus today released the following statement mourning the 15 lives lost and more than 40 injured following a targeted shooting at Sydney, Australia’s Bondi Beach on the first night of Hanukkah. 

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Jewish Caucus today released the following statement denouncing President Trump’s recent remarks targeting the Somali community:

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) today voted ‘NO’ on House Bill (HB) 485, the Baby Olivia Act, and House Bill (HB) 486, the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act. These bills push programming in public schools that are not evidence-based and allow for biased teaching of health and social studies curricula.

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) today voted ‘NO’ on House Bill (HB) 324, a piece of legislation which would hinder Ohioans’ access to reproductive medicine such as mifepristone. The bill passed out of both the House Health Committee and the House floor on party lines.