Terrence Upchurch News

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today voiced strong support for the position that the Ohio Constitution places meaningful limits on the General Assembly’s ability to alter or undo voter-approved initiated statutes—such as the 2023 adult-use cannabis legalization measure passed by Ohioans.

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today is proud to announce the launch of a community-wide Flag Retirement Collection Program, aimed at providing residents with a respectful and convenient way to retire worn or damaged American flags.

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today, in response to renewed legal battles between American Electric Power (AEP) Ohio and Nationwide Energy Partners (NEP), and following recent Ohio Supreme Court oral arguments in Wingo v. NEP, issued the following statement urging the Ohio General Assembly to take action on his bipartisan legislation House Bill (HB) 265, to regulate submetering companies as public utilities:

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma), a member of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), announced today that he will be pressing the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC) for answers during the committee’s upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 24th. The questions stem from the Commission’s failure to comply with a basic legal requirement: the mandatory five-year review of its administrative rules.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today celebrated the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) recent announcement of $7.6 million in funding through its Routes to School Program, including two major investments in the City of Cleveland. These projects aim to make it safer and easier for students in grades K–12 to walk or bike to school.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today raised serious constitutional concerns about a provision buried in the Senate version of House Bill (HB) 96, Ohio’s proposed 2026-2027 biennium operating budget. Specifically, Rep. Brennan criticized a controversial escheatment provision that fundamentally alters the state’s treatment of unclaimed funds—calling it a violation of the Ohio Constitution’s single-subject rule.

COLUMBUS— State Reps. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives’ passage of House Bill (HB) 168. The bipartisan bill would bring Ohio’s child enticement statute into compliance with constitutional standards while strengthening protections for children across the state.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today released the following statement concerning Governor Mike DeWine’s decision to send 150 National Guard members to support the District of Columbia National Guard:

COLUMBUS – Members of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus today held a press conference detailing the dangerous impacts House Bill (HB) 335 would have on the crucial funding for public schools, police and fire departments, county budgets and critical services Ohioans rely on.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today voted “NO” on the vote to override a school district property tax levy restriction provision vetoed in House Bill 96 (the state operating budget). Line-item 66 would eliminate several types of levies, limiting the choices voters have in how to support their schools and local governments, and would not provide real property tax relief to Ohioans. Real property tax relief is one of the most pressing needs for everyday Ohioans. House Democrats are ready and willing to work together to get that done.

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (Parma) today announced that $1.6 million in grant funding from the Ohio EPA for recycling and litter prevention will be awarded to Northeast Ohio. These grants are available to local governments and nonprofits to purchase equipment for collecting and processing recyclable products and construction and demolition debris. This funding will help communities provide litter prevention cleanup programs, education and outreach, scrap tire collections, recycling market development, and expansion of recycling facilities and infrastructure.  

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today released the following statement after Wednesday’s Ballot Board Meeting, where Republicans split the Ohio Equal Rights Amendment into two ballot measures, furthering their agenda to limit Ohioans’ fundamental right at the ballot box:

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) yesterday voted against concurrence with the Ohio Senate’s version of the state operating budget, House Bill (HB) 96. Rep. Brennan remains deeply concerned about the budget’s failure to fully fund public education, healthcare, childcare, and property tax relief.

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Darnell T. Brewer (D-Cleveland) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today sent a letter to Attorney General Dave Yost requesting his office to investigate the recent explosion and fire at the Rainbow Terrace apartment complex in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite statements from the complex’s management group stating residents have not made complaints about gas leading up to the explosion, both state representatives have been told that residents have long raised complaints regarding unsafe and deteriorating conditions in their units.

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) and Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) have introduced House Bill (HB) 265 - bipartisan legislation to close a dangerous loophole in Ohio law by regulating submetering companies—unregulated entities that resell electricity, water, and gas to tenants in multi-unit housing.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today voted “NO” on House Bill (HB) 96, the Republican-crafted state operating budget, citing cruel and chaotic cuts and its abject failure to invest in children, public education, healthcare, and basic services – all while shoveling billions to the wealthy and well-connected. 

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) alongside fellow members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) today held a press conference honoring Juneteenth and reminding Ohio Black history is American History. 

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today voted “NO” on House Bill (HB) 5, the Repeat Offender Act. 

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today released the following statement after Wednesday’s Ballot Board meeting that advanced the Citizens for Property Tax Reform’s proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio:

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today voted “NO” on the Republican state operating budget, House Bill (HB) 96, because it arbitrarily and recklessly slashes critical state funding areas while failing to benefit everyday Ohioans. Rather than provide real and meaningful support to Ohio’s citizens, House Republicans chose to dismantle the constitutional and bipartisan fair school funding formula, dump more taxpayer money into vouchers for charter non-public and private schools that benefit the wealthiest Ohioans, and authorize a $600M handout to billionaires to build a new Browns stadium outside of Cleveland amidst opposition by local leaders.

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus), and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today united in calling for a pause on a proposed stadium financing plan that could cost Ohio taxpayers more than $1B over the next three decades. A letter to Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and Arts, Athletics, and Tourism Committee Chair Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) demanded greater transparency, additional hearings, and public accountability before any deal moves forward.