Republican News

COLUMBUS – State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) this week was appointed by Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) to serve as Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

COLUMBUS –State Representatives Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) recently introduced legislation to remedy frivolous public records requests. 

COLUMBUS–State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Dec. 24 death of Imam Mohamed Hassan Adam, a well-respected religious leader in the Columbus Somali and Muslim communities, was ruled a homicide.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) was glad to participate in a press conference in honor of the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety’s (SPS) recent announcement that it has spared more than 30,109 children from serious harm since its inception.

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today highlighted several key priorities he was able to deliver for Ohio taxpayers in 2021, including securing $2 million across District 25 and Franklin County for COVID-19 relief, $1 billion for education, and $76 million for transportation and infrastructure to assist local communities, schools, small businesses, and Ohio’s working people and families affected by coronavirus and ongoing economic uncertainty. 

COLUMBUS – State Representative Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 204, bipartisan legislation to recognize 6888th Central Post Battalion, with unanimous support. 

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) voted in favor of Substitute House Bill (HB) 169 to appropriate $4.18 billion to support education, expand access to childcare and improve public health, among other investments in Ohio’s working people, families and communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill is funded through several federal COVID-19 relief packages, the majority of which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act backed by Democrats and signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) announced the passage of House Bill 86 today, the Gus Frangos Act. The legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, delivers significant updates to Ohio’s land banking and tax foreclosure laws—strengthening property owner rights, modernizing legal procedures, and expanding collaboration between land banks and local governments.

COLUMBUS—The House Local Government Committee today passed the Flip the Script Bill sponsored by State Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.).

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) issued a statement today after Senate Bill (SB) 157, the latest Republican anti-abortion bill, passed the Ohio House on a party line vote. Opponents say SB 157 would patients in danger by interfering with the ability for doctors and patients to make appropriate and life-saving medical decisions if faced with a medical crisis during pregnancy.

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) is pleased to announce the recent passage of multiple pieces of legislation. 

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after former Franklin County Sheriff’s office deputy Jason Meade was indicted on murder charges for the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. in December 2020. 

COLUMBUS—State Representative David Thomas (R-Jefferson) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 131, bipartisan legislation to prohibit law enforcement agencies from using quotas for arrests and citations.

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today called on the House Criminal Justice Committee to hold legislative hearings on House Bill 367, known as Andre’s Law, which would require the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras by peace officers, among other changes to increase transparency and accountability for police in Ohio. 

COLUMBUS—State Representative Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) recently participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new CHC Administrative Building in Akron, Ohio. 

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) yesterday voted in opposition to two bills opponents say would make schools and communities less safe and fail to address gun violence in Ohio. House Bill (HB) 99 would allow school districts to arm teachers in the classroom without adequate training or safe storage requirements, while HB 227 would eliminate concealed weapon training and safety standards, including penalties for failing to notify police of a concealed weapon during a stop. 

COLUMBUS—State Representative Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) recently served at the Akron Soap Box Derby, a STEM-based educational program for students in grades 3-12. 

COLUMBUS—In response to a recent Republican press conference on community engagement with law enforcement, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today urged action on comprehensive Democratic legislation to modernize policing in Ohio, improve community-police relations and ensure the safety and security of both officers and the public. Democrats unveiled their proposals in April 2021, which are a key pillar of their Opportunity Agenda for Ohio. Democrats say many of the reforms they introduced are already working to improve policing and public safety in communities and states across the country.