Democratic News

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today introduced legislation to create Automated Voter Registration in Ohio. The bill has the potential to add 1 million eligible Ohio voters to the rolls. Rep. Sweeney worked on the bill as part of a bipartisan working group including Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Senator Nathan Manning and Senator Vernon Sykes.

State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson)’s bipartisan bill with Rep. Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) will be signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on Monday, January 27 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The legislation, which will grant licensing reciprocity for active-duty military families, started in the legislature as House Bill 133 before being consolidated into Senate Bill 7 at the end of 2019.

State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Randi Clites (D-Ravenna) today called on Statehouse leaders to protect Ohioans’ healthcare by advancing the bipartisan Pre-Existing Protection Act, House Bill 390. The call comes hours after a decision in Texas v. United States raised more uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) future, including its provision to protect healthcare access for those with pre-existing conditions.  

State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced that House Bill (HB) 12, his bipartisan bill with state Rep. Don Manning (R-New Middletown) to create the Children’s Behavioral Health Prevention Network Stakeholder Group, was signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon), who serves as Ranking Member on the Committee of Primary and Secondary Education,issued a statement today concerning the immediate need to fix the state’s EdChoice voucher program.

State Representatives John Rogers (D-Mentor-On-The-Lake) and Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) today announced the introduction of the “Blair Deduction,” a proposal that would allow individuals to deduct up to $4,000 per year from their Ohio income taxes. This is the most recent iteration of legislation that was originally co-authored by Representative Rogers and the late Representative, Terry Blair.

With the end of the 2019 legislative term, House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement on the historic levels of bipartisanship during the 133^rd General Assembly, which, through the first year, has seen the percentage of bills clearing the House sponsored by Democrats double over the previous two General Assemblies. 

State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) Wednesday announced the unanimous passage in the Senate of House Bill (HB) 4, his bipartisan bill alongside Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) to help streamline the process of developing industry-recognized credential and certificate programs. This is both Rep. Robinson’s first bill as a legislator, and his first to pass both chambers to become law.

State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) today applauded the House concurrence of House Bill (HB) 2, moving this job training and workforce development legislation to the governor’s desk for his signature. 

Rep. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) today introduced a several bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in Ohio, including legislation to improve statewide reporting on maternal mortality as well as a bill to expand training at hospitals and other birthing facilities across the state to improve care for certain life-threatening complications arising from childbirth.