Keeping it Brief
State
DeWine: It would be ‘absolutely irresponsible’ to not veto SB 22
“Senate Bill 22 was introduced in January, a few weeks into the new legislative term. Its main provision calls for allowing lawmakers to strike down health orders and a state of emergency declaration via concurrent resolution.” This bill recently passed through the Ohio General Assembly.
Gov. DeWine says that he is working to compromise with state legislatures on this issue, but believes the bill is unconstitutional and “violates the separation of powers”.
“DeWine said numerous times he is not opposed to the bill solely because of how it might impact his administration’s ability to handle COVID-19, but because of how it would affect future governments”.
Gov. DeWine is inclined to veto the bill if no compromise is made.
Ohio abortion ban with felony charges back in the works, targeting Roe v. Wade
SB 123 was introduced this week. This bill aims to make it a fourth degree felony to perform abortion procedures.
This law would not go into effect in the state, if passed, unless the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade
An abortion procedure would only be legal if it prevented the death of the pregnant woman.
Sen. Kristina Roegner says that “I believe that when the U.S. Supreme Court considers a challenge to Roe, they will realize that the original decision from 1973 was seriously flawed, and return the authority regarding abortion to the states”.
State report cards to see major changes under new legislation
“State Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, and Rep. Phil Robinson, D-Solon, introduced a bill to get rid of elements of the state report card including the letter grade designation after studying the effects and usefulness of the grades over five years”.
The legislatures believe getting rid of parts of the state report card is part of the much needed systemic change in Ohio’s education policy. It is explained that there is a difference between failing a course and needing extra support.
Instead of a letter grade, students would receive comments of “significantly exceeds expectations, exceeds expectations, meets expectations, substantially approaching expectations, moderately approaching expectations and in need of support”.
The superintendent of the Middletown City Schools says that “report card legislation shifts the state away from punitive measures and a system that has practices that are biased”.
Bill removing duty to tell cops about concealed weapons advances
HB 89 passed in a state House committee this week. The bill removes the “requirement for licensed Ohioans to notify police that they’re carrying a concealed handgun or have one in a vehicle”.
The person carrying the weapon would only need to show their gun license if requested by a police officer.
The bill removes the consequences of violating this requirement.
The Buckeye’s State Sheriff’s Association and the Fraternal Order of Police oppose this legislation.
“ ‘By reducing the requirement [to notify], this amendment could serve to create the tense situations that have led to an erosion of the public’s trust in law enforcement’ said Bruce Pijanowski, the Delaware Chief of Police, on behalf of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police”
Anti-discrimination ‘Fairness Act’ back in legislature with more GOP support
The Fairness Act is sponsored by Sen. Nicki Antonio and aims to protect people of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.
The bill aims to also create an improved work environment for people in the LGBTQ+ community.
“The state bill would add to the federal bill by including discrimination protections in housing and public accommodation”.
Bill to allow armed school personnel returns to committee as court case awaits decision
HB 99 was recently introduced. This bill aims to “allow personnel to be armed on school grounds with firearms training determined by the school district”.
The bill would get rid of the current requirement that all personnel must receive training before carrying a weapon in a school.
The bill would allow schools to create their own weapon safety and training programs
Similar bills are currently being discussed by the Ohio Supreme Court
State testing bill passes committee without stopping exams this year
The Ohio State House unanimously passed the state testing bill.
Amendments were made to the bill that now explain the length of the tests can be shorter and participation does not have to reach 95%. The state testing period is also extended.
The American History test has been eliminated because it is important that the subject is taught in person.
Schools can now use final grades, instead of standardized test scores, as achievement markers.
Bill targets ‘doctor daddy’ crimes in sperm donations, in-vitro pregnancies
A new bill has been introduced by State Rep. Jena Powell which would make it a felony for a doctor to switch their sperm with a sperm donor’s when impregnating a woman in-vitro.
The bill also allows for the woman and/or child to begin a civil action lawsuit if they are victims of this. The civil action or prosecution would have to occur within 10 years of the insemination.
“Cases of doctors using their own sperm in fertility clinics have occurred across the country, including a fertility specialist in Indianapolis who was accused of impregnating more than 30 women during 1970s and 80s, with 61 people claiming DNA shows him as their father. That doctor pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and surrender his medical license, but had retired before the case came along. Even if he hadn’t, at the time, Indiana didn’t have a law against the practice. They passed a law to that effect in May 2019”.
Tougher anti-hazing Collin’s Law reintroduced in Ohio Senate Wednesday
SB 126 was recently introduced by State Sens. Stephanie Kunze and Theresa Gavarone in response to the death of a student at Bowling Green State University that resulted from fraternity hazing.
The bill is also called Collin’s Law and “would expand the definition of hazing in Ohio to include the forced consumption of drugs and alcohol..the bill would increase the criminal penalties for hazing, which in Ohio is now a fourth-degree misdemeanor, comparable to not paying a parking ticket. Under Collin's Law, that would be increased to a second-degree misdemeanor for general hazing and a third-degree felony for any hazing involving drugs or alcohol”.
A similar bill was introduced last year and is stalled in the Education Committee. The Athens County Prosecutor explains that this kind of legislation is “crucial to helping prosecutors go after culprits of hazing”. Currently, the greatest penalty for hazing in Ohio is spending 30 days in jail.
Federal
House passes bill to expand background checks for gun sales
The House of Representatives recently passed two bills in relation to gun safety.
The first bill “is designed to close loopholes to ensure background checks are extended to private and online sales that often go undetected, including at gun shows. The legislation includes limited exceptions allowing temporary transfers to prevent imminent harm, for use at a target range and for gifts from family, among others”.
The second bill would extend the background check process from three days to ten days.
Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi tried to pass similar legislation in the last Congress, but neither bill would be heard in the Senate.
President Bident Just Signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill Into Law. Here’s What’s In It
$1400 checks for middle and lower income families
Extended unemployment insurance through summer
$70 billion towards increased vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing
Individuals and couples who make between $75,000 and $150,000 will receive a $1,400 check
Individuals who make between $70,000-$80,000 and couples who earn between $150,000 and $160,000 will receive some of the $1400, but not all.
Expanded Tax Credits
Funding for State and Local Schools
Relief for Restaurants and Small Businesses
Targeting State Restrictions, House Passes Landmark Voting Rights Expansion
The House passed landmark legislation this week which “aims to impose new national requirements weakening restrictive state voter ID laws, mandate automatic voter registration, expand early and mail-in voting, make it harder to purge voter rolls and restore voting rights to former felons....it would also eliminate partisan gerrymandering, impose new transparency on dark money used to finance campaigns, tighten government ethics standards and create a public financing option for congressional campaigns.”
The bill passed along party lines. It is unlikely the bill will pass in the Senate because 60 votes are needed for it to pass and an overwhelming number of GOP Senators do not support the passage of the bill.
If the bill were to pass through the Senate and be signed into law, “states would be required to automatically register eligible voters, hold at least 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections and provide drop boxes for absentee ballots like the ones Mr. Trump falsely claimed led to fraud. It would make it far easier to vote by mail and far harder to purge voters from the rolls”.