Democratic News

COLUMBUS – State Representative Derek Merrin’s (R-Monclova) House Bill 140, which will help voters better understand levy issues on a ballot, has been signed into law Tuesday.

Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) appointed State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for the 134th General Assembly. 

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) introduced the “Anthony Dia Act,” to expand the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund to ensure Anthony Dia’s sons qualify to receive a waiver to cover their college tuition and fees in Ohio. Currently, the fund provides tuition and fee waivers to spouses and children of police officers, fire fighters, and US armed forces service members killed in the line of duty, if they remain Ohio residents. 

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) announces Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday will be happening for consumers across the state from Aug. 7-9. The holiday marks the weekend where Ohioans will not have to pay state sales and use taxes on clothing items, school supplies and school instructional materials up to a certain price. Merrin was a cosponsor of Senate Bill 226 from the 132^nd General Assembly, which made the sales tax holiday permanent.

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) announces that the State Controlling Board recently approved coronavirus relief funding to support local schools preparing for the beginning of the upcoming school year. 

State Rep. Derek Merrin’s (R-Monclova) sponsored legislation, the Unclaimed Funds Reform Act, makes substantial changes to how the unclaimed funds system in Ohio operates. The comprehensive legislation earned bipartisan praise and passed unanimously in the Ohio House.

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) today introduced a fiscally-responsible capital reappropriations bill.

State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) is encouraging small business owners across Fulton and Lucas counties to submit their story of how they’ve been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ohio 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force is launching the initiative to help further understand the magnitude of the coronavirus on Ohio’s economy. 

State Rep. Derek Merrin’s (R-Monclova) legislation, House Bill 150, passed in the Ohio House today by a 93-3 vote. The bill provides meaningful tax relief to new banks starting across the state. For the first three years, banks will be exempted from the Financial Institutions Tax and likely receive an annual tax savings ranging from $100,000 to $400,000.

A state initiative to support local farmers and minimize phosphorus runoff in Ohio’s waterways is welcome news for the region, State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) said today.

COLUMBUS – Today, Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader and Commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement after the majority of Commissioners subverted the bipartisan, transparent map-drawing process ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court, instead introducing and adopting a set of state legislative maps that were drawn in secret by majority commissioners. 

COLUMBUS— Today, State Reps. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson), demanded House Bill (HB) 327, the ‘Both Sides’ bill, be barred from any further consideration by the Ohio House after the Republican bill sponsor said in a recent interview that educators should teach “German soldiers’” perspective of the Holocaust. 

COLUMBUS – Today, Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a joint Democratic response to Gov. DeWine’s State of the State speech. During the press conference, Democrats highlighted their plan to expand opportunity, invest in working people and families, and build an economy that works for everyone. 

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader and Ohio Redistricting Commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today issued a statement after the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the state legislative maps adopted by the Redistricting Commission on Feb. 24. 

COLUMBUS —Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement today after Gov. DeWine signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 215, extreme permitless concealed carry legislation that puts Ohioans and law enforcement in danger. SB 215 will allow any Ohioan, aged 21 years or older, to carry a concealed handgun without a permit and without any training, provided they are not otherwise prohibited under state or federal law. Additionally, this bill modifies “duty to notify” requirements and reduces the penalty for failure to notify to a misdemeanor with no accompanying license suspension. Democrats had called on the governor to veto this legislation last week. 

COLUMBUS —House Democrat leaders, led by Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. DeWine urging his veto of  Senate Bill (SB) 215, extreme permitless concealed carry legislation that puts Ohioans and law enforcement in danger. 

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) issued statements today after the Ohio House passed a bill that would let Secretary LaRose shorten the federally required 45-day military and overseas voting period before Election Day by 16 days. 

COLUMBUS — Today, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement regarding the court filing deadline in voter advocates’ challenge to the congressional districts.

COLUMBUS— Today, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) issued statements today after the federal Department of Defense denied Ohio’s request to shorten the time for delivering absentee ballots to military and overseas voters. 

COLUMBUS— Today, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Ranking Member Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) spoke out against the latest version of House Bill (HB) 327, the most recent attempt by Republicans to silence and censor Ohioans.