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State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Jamie Callender (R-Concord) today introduced House Bill 1 – key, bipartisan legislation to modernize K-12 school funding across Ohio. The bill is virtually identical to last General Assembly’s House Bill 305, which was a school funding reform proposal that passed the House with overwhelming support late last year.
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as House Republican leaders pushed a House floor vote on House rules that would stifle the voices of Ohioans in committee hearings and on the House floor. Democrats say the changes silence legitimate concerns of millions of Ohioans.
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on House Democratic budget priorities for the 134th General Assembly, which include coronavirus relief, healthcare modernization and education funding. The governor released his initial plan Monday.
State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park) have requested that Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health’s Director Stephanie McCloud include early childhood educators and child care workers in prioritization for COVID-19 vaccine distribution alongside K-12 educators. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many of Ohio’s child care programs have struggled to remain open - operating at substantially lower capacity and at a financial loss - so that essential workers have the vital child care services needed to continue working.
COLUMBUS — State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin) today highlighted their intent to introduce a resolution condemning the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6. In a cosponsor request to House members last week, the Democratic lawmakers called the resolution “an opportunity to offer a clear and bipartisan rebuke of this assault on American democracy and the rule of law.” The deadline to cosponsor has now been extended twice in order to give Republican lawmakers every opportunity to sign on in support.
Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) and state Sens. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) today urged fellow lawmakers to sign onto their legislation that would increase Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027. In their co-sponsor request memos, the Democratic lawmakers said that raising wages for working Ohioans will bring more economic security and stability to millions of Ohioans living paycheck to paycheck and boost the long-term health of the state’s economy.
Today, State Reps. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) and Jeff Crossman (D-Parma) reintroduced House Bill (HB) 686 from the 133rd General Assembly to cancel end-of-year state testing for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Reps. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) and Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced the introduction of legislation that would repeal the recently passed Shoot First law that permits the use of deadly force by individuals who believe their lives are endangered anywhere in the state. The law was tucked in as a last minute amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 175 during the lame duck period of the 133rd General Assembly despite passionate opposition from House Democrats. The governor then chose to sign this bill into law, even after professing concerns about gun violence in Ohio.
The Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus today announced the selection of the following Co-Chairs and Co-Vice Chairs for the 134th General Assembly:
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement on Wednesday’s inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, cementing Democratic control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.
State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) today condemned Governor Mike DeWine’s signing into law of Senate Bill 175, which grants civil immunity to handgun licensees who are responsible for injury, death, or other loss as a result of carrying a handgun. The proposed amendment mimics “stand your ground” laws and permits the use of deadly force by individuals who believe their lives are endangered. Brent says the legislation disproportionately impacts the lives of Black Ohioans and puts the safety of Ohioans at risk.

House Democrats today celebrated a historically effective two-year legislative session, which saw them play a critical role in policymaking, passing dozens of bills and long-held caucus priorities, including investments in education, job training, and public transit, as well as tax cuts for working families and expanded health care access to improve maternal health and infant mortality. Dec. 31 marks the official end to the 133rd General Assembly (GA).
Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued the following statement as Ohio and the nation will reportedly fall far short of the vaccination goal of 20 million doses by the end of the year. Just 2.1 million doses have been administered nationwide to date. The state Controlling Board Wednesday approved $125 million in funds to distribute vaccines.
State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today highlighted several key priorities Democrats were able to deliver for Ohio taxpayers in 2020, including securing $4.53 billion in funding to assist local communities, front line workers, first responders, schools, small businesses, and Ohio’s working people and families affected by coronavirus and ongoing economic uncertainty.

COLUMBUS— State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this morning, making her the first member of the Ohio General Assembly to receive the vaccine.
Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today urged Gov. Mike DeWine to veto two controversial bills, Shoot First legislation Democrats say endangers Black lives and makes Ohioans less safe, and a new, extremist restriction on abortion access in Ohio. House Republicans cut off debate on the bills last week, denying Democrats the opportunity to speak out against the last-minute flurry of extreme legislation GOP lawmakers are rushing through the legislative process before the end of the 133rd General Assembly at the end of the year.
COLUMBUS– State Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) today announced that House Bill (HB) 1, her bipartisan bill to modify intervention in lieu of conviction/sealing requirements, moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.
COLUMBUS- State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced that House Bill (HB) 442, his bipartisan bill with Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) to enact Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure reform, has cleared the legislature after the House concurred Senate amendments. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
COLUMBUS- State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), Beth Liston (D-Dublin) and Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) today stood in opposition to the House passage of Senate Bill (SB) 260, the latest Republican attack on access to safe, legal abortion care that would ban abortion services via telehealth. The bill passed the Ohio House early Friday morning after House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) refused to allow floor debate on the legislation. It now heads to the governor’s desk.
COLUMBUS— In the dark of night while most Ohioans were sleeping, the Republican Supermajority on three separate occasions utilized the rarely used House Rule 101 to move the previous question, cutting off debate for controversial bills on Stand Your Ground a.k.a Kill at Will, abortion and curbing the power of the public health director. House Democrats had been prepared to offer multiple amendments to the controversial bills and deliver floor speeches that lifted up the voices and concerns of their constituents, but they never got the chance. Also silenced was the radical faction of GOP lawmakers who had floor amendments ready to be offered.