Labor & Employment

in committee · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 8: Require health plan and Medicaid coverage of biomarker testing

HB 8 requires health insurance plans and Ohio Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing disease monitoring when ordered by a provider as medically necessary. The bill mandates coverage only for tests supported by specific evidence, such as FDA-approved uses, clinical guidelines, or peer-reviewed studies showing improved health outcomes, and explicitly excludes screening purposes. It also requires plans to minimize disruptions in care (like multiple biopsies) and ensures an accessible appeal process for coverage denials. This affects patients with conditions requiring these tests and healthcare providers ordering them, but does not change existing coverage for screening.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates Ohio Medicaid coverage for biomarker testing, directly increasing government spending and appropriations for healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 8 mandates health insurance and Medicaid coverage for medically necessary biomarker testing, expanding patient access to diagnostic and monitoring services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 8 mandates health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing, thereby expanding the scope of health benefits available to workers.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 59: Revise and streamline the state's occupational regulations

HB 59 requires all occupational licensing boards (like those for nurses, electricians, or contractors) to undergo regular reviews to determine if they still serve a public need. Each board must submit detailed reports on their purpose, costs, staffing, and effectiveness, and then prove to legislative committees that their regulation is necessary for public safety, not duplicative, and not unduly restrictive. Committees must evaluate boards using 23 specific criteria, including whether less restrictive alternatives exist or if the board serves private interests. This law directly affects every state occupational licensing board by shifting the burden to demonstrate continued necessity, rather than assuming boards should remain in place. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary regulations that could increase costs or hinder economic activity.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates regular reviews of occupational licensing boards for purpose, costs, and effectiveness, promoting fiscal responsibility and efficient government spending.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 59 requires review of occupational licenses for professionals like nurses to ensure regulations aren't unduly restrictive, potentially increasing the healthcare workforce and improving patient access.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 59 aims to streamline occupational regulations, ensuring they are not 'unduly restrictive,' which could expand access to licensed professions and advance employment opportunities.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Ohio · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 134: Authorize home kitchen registration for sale of certain foods

HB 134 creates a registration program allowing home kitchens to legally sell certain homemade foods, like baked goods or jams, directly to customers. It updates state rules to establish a microenterprise home kitchen registration system, replacing the need for a full commercial kitchen license. Home cooks must register under this new program to sell qualifying foods, which are limited to low-risk items meeting specific safety standards. The law directly affects small-scale home food producers seeking to sell their goods without operating a commercial kitchen.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 134 establishes safety standards for home-produced foods, which directly supports public health by minimizing risks of foodborne illness.80% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingHB 134 expands property rights by allowing commercial use of home kitchens, creating new economic opportunities within residential properties.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 134 creates a legal framework for home-based food sales, enabling small-scale home food producers to operate businesses and generate income, thus expanding employment opportunities.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Ohio · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 338: Enact Andy's Law

HB 338, "Andy's Law," increases criminal penalties for assaults or causing death of staff or inmates at Ohio state or local correctional facilities. It amends specific Ohio Revised Code sections to impose stricter sentencing for these offenses and updates policies and procedures for the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The law directly affects correctional facility staff, inmates, and the state's criminal justice system by changing how such incidents are prosecuted and managed. These changes focus on enhancing accountability for violence within correctional settings.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 338 increases criminal penalties and imposes stricter sentencing for assaults/deaths in correctional facilities, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 338 increases criminal penalties for assaults against correctional facility staff, directly enhancing workplace safety for these employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Ohio · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 44: Regards law enforcement training and competitive examinations

To amend sections 124.11 and 124.30 and to enact section 737.061 of the Revised Code regarding training schools for prospective law enforcement officers and filling a vacant police department position without a competitive examination.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill addresses law enforcement training schools for prospective officers, which strengthens the preparedness and quality of personnel within the criminal justice system.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill amends employment standards by allowing vacant police positions to be filled without competitive examination, potentially weakening merit-based hiring processes.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Ohio · House Jan 19, 2026

HB 57: Regards school policies on administering overdose reversal drugs

HB 57 requires Ohio schools to establish written policies allowing trained staff to administer overdose reversal drugs (like naloxone) during opioid overdose emergencies. It directly affects school staff, administrators, and students by creating clear protocols for emergency response. Key provisions include mandating staff training on drug administration, specifying when and how the drugs may be used, and requiring documentation of each administration. The bill aims to enable swift, life-saving interventions in school settings without requiring individual prescriptions for each incident. These changes apply to all public and private schools operating within Ohio.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHB 57 strengthens K-12 schools by mandating policies and staff training for emergency overdose response, protecting students and staff within the educational environment.88% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 57 mandates policies for administering life-saving overdose reversal drugs, directly improving access to emergency health services and public health response within schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 57 improves workplace safety for school staff by mandating training and clear protocols for administering overdose reversal drugs, enhancing emergency response capabilities.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

vetoed · Ohio · Senate Dec 3, 2025

SB 50: Regards age and schooling certificates, minor work hours

SB 50 amends Ohio law to update requirements for minors under sixteen working. It changes the rules for age verification, schooling certificates, and maximum work hours for young workers. The bill directly affects employers hiring minors and the minors themselves, requiring updated documentation and limiting work time. These changes aim to clarify and strengthen protections for young workers while ensuring compliance with educational obligations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill updates minor work rules, including schooling certificates and work hour limits, explicitly aiming to ensure compliance with educational obligations for young workers.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSB 50 aims to 'clarify and strengthen protections for young workers' and 'limit work time' for minors, directly advancing worker protections within Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Ohio · House Nov 19, 2025

HB 253: License advanced practice respiratory therapists

To amend sections 2305.234, 2925.01, 2925.23, 2925.55, 2925.56, 2929.42, 3701.048, 3701.74, 3715.872, 3719.121, 3719.13, 3719.81, 4729.01, 4729.51, 4731.22, 4731.25, 4743.09, 4755.48, 4761.01, 4761.03, 4761.032, 4761.06, 4761.061, 4761.07, 4761.09, 4761.13, 4761.14, 4761.17, 4761.30, 4761.99, 4765.51, 4769.01, 5123.47, 5164.95, and 5903.12 and to enact sections 4761.033, 4761.20, 4761.21, 4761.31, 4761.311, 4761.32, 4761.33, 4761.34, 4761.35, 4761.36, 4761.37, 4761.38, 4761.39, 4761.391, 4761.40, 4761.41, 4761.42, 4761.44, 4761.45, 4761.46, and 4761.49 of the Revised Code to license advanced practice respiratory therapists.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill HB 253 proposes to license advanced practice respiratory therapists, directly supporting medical professionals and strengthening health services within the healthcare topic.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes or amends licensing for advanced practice respiratory therapists, directly impacting employment standards and professional recognition for this labor sector.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Ohio · Senate Nov 5, 2025

SCR 3: Urge Fair Labor Standards Act changes for employees under 16

To urge Congress to make changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow a person under 16 years of age to be employed between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the school year.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentThe bill proposes changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow minors under 16 to work later during the school year, which weakens existing worker protections for child labor.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Ohio · Senate Sep 30, 2025

SB 39: Provide for informational poster on veteran benefits and services

To enact section 4113.13 of the Revised Code regarding the creation and display of a poster containing information on benefits and services for veterans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides information on veteran benefits and services, which include healthcare. This indirectly improves veterans' access to existing health services and support.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill requires displaying information on veteran benefits and services. This expands access to resources for veteran employees, indirectly supporting their welfare and employment within the workplace.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransThe bill creates a poster to inform veterans about available benefits and services, directly advancing access to veteran support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment