Labor & Employment

in committee · Ohio · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 745: Enact Student-Athlete Publicity Rights and Fair Compensation Act

To enact sections 3314.0311, 3373.01, 3373.02, 3373.03, 3373.04, 3373.05, 3373.06, 3373.07, 3373.08, 3373.09, 3373.10, and 3373.11 of the Revised Code to enact the Student-Athlete Publicity Rights and Fair Compensation Act to address name, image, and likeness compensation for high school athletes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes compensation rights for student-athletes, enhancing educational equity and protecting student interests within K-12 schools.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes fair compensation rights for student-athletes, addressing wage and employment standards for a specific worker group.75% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Child Labor

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in committee · Ohio · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 788: Regards paid military leave for law enforcement officers

This bill updates Ohio's paid military leave policy for law enforcement officers and other public safety employees, ensuring they receive paid time off when serving in the uniformed services. It clarifies that permanent public employees, including firefighters and law enforcement officers, are entitled to up to one month of paid leave per federal fiscal year for military service, with specific definitions for what constitutes a month and what counts as uniformed service. For service extending beyond one month, the bill establishes payment rules for state agency and political subdivision employees, requiring them to receive the difference between their regular salary and military pay, capped at $500 for political subdivisions. The legislation also outlines documentation requirements, collective bargaining protections, and repeals previous conflicting provisions to streamline the leave process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens support for law enforcement officers by ensuring paid military leave, enhancing their ability to serve in uniformed services while maintaining employment benefits.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands paid military leave benefits for law enforcement and public safety employees, strengthening worker protections and employment benefits.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill extends paid military leave benefits to law enforcement and public safety employees, recognizing their service in uniformed services and supporting veteran-related employment benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Collective Bargaining Paid Leave

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 396: Establish family and medical leave insurance benefits

To amend section 5747.01 and to enact sections 4143.01, 4143.02, 4143.03, 4143.04, 4143.05, 4143.06, 4143.07, 4143.08, 4143.09, 4143.10, 4143.11, 4143.12, 4143.13, 4143.14, 4143.15, 4143.16, 4143.17, and 4143.18 of the Revised Code to establish family and medical leave insurance benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes family and medical leave insurance benefits, expanding healthcare access and protecting patient rights by enabling time off for health needs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes family and medical leave insurance benefits, expanding worker protections and benefits in the labor and employment sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Ohio · House May 13, 2026

HB 797: Enact the Ohio Students and Families Workforce Strengthening Act

To establish the Social Work Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) Internship Program, to name this act the Ohio Students and Families Workforce Strengthening Act, and to make an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation to fund the SMART Internship Program, directly advancing budget allocation for workforce development.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes internship program for social work education, enhancing workforce training and educational access in higher education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes internship program for social work apprentices, strengthening workforce training and retention in labor sector75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Apprenticeships

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in committee · Ohio · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 711: Regards the minimum teacher salary schedule

HB 711 updates Ohio's minimum teacher salary schedule by expanding how "years of service" are calculated to include teaching in chartered nonpublic schools, state-operated schools, and up to five years of active military service (with partial years of eight months counting as full years). It establishes a base minimum salary of $35,000, with higher salaries determined by years of service and academic training level, requiring school districts and educational service centers to follow this schedule. The bill mandates that teachers be placed in the correct salary bracket without district restrictions and allows complaints to the director of education and workforce for enforcement. This directly affects Ohio public school teachers and school districts by setting enforceable salary minimums based on expanded service definitions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates increased teacher salary funding via state schedule, requiring school districts to allocate more budget for educator compensation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSets $35,000 base teacher salary, expands service calculation to include nonpublic school/military teaching, directly increasing educator compensation and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets $35,000 base minimum teacher salary and expands service calculation to increase pay, directly advancing worker compensation in education sector.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly includes active military service in teacher salary calculation, recognizing veterans' service for compensation purposes.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 688: Prohibit employment application question re: criminal background

To enact section 4113.87 of the Revised Code to prohibit private employers from including on an employment application any question concerning the criminal background of the applicant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits employment inquiries about criminal history, reducing barriers to reemployment for people with records - aligns with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits criminal background questions in hiring, reducing employment barriers for workers with records, directly protecting employment rights under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 355: Expand the offense of aggravated menacing re: certain workers

To amend section 2903.21 of the Revised Code to expand the offense of aggravated menacing to prohibit threatening a utility worker, cable operator worker, or broadband worker with intent to obstruct the operation of a utility.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of threats against utility workers, increasing penalties for obstructing essential services per bill's explicit language.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects utility workers from threats, enhancing workplace safety and rights by criminalizing obstruction attempts against their operations.85% confidence

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passed · Ohio · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 343: Regards workers' compensation coverage-urban search and rescue

To amend sections 5502.29 and 5502.41 and to enact section 5502.301 of the Revised Code regarding workers' compensation coverage for a member of an urban search and rescue unit rendering assistance in Ohio at the request of the state's Emergency Management Agency Executive Director.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation coverage for urban search and rescue personnel, strengthening benefits for specific workers under employment protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · Ohio · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 624: Regards employment under Ohio's overtime and minimum wage laws

To amend sections 4111.03 and 4111.14 and to enact section 4111.20 of the Revised Code regarding the distinction between employees and independent contractors under Ohio's overtime and minimum wage laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends employee vs. contractor distinctions under Ohio's wage/overtime laws to clarify protections, aligning with worker rights advancement in wage/hour policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Ohio · Senate Oct 29, 2025

SB 305: Appropriate funds for SNAP, TANF, WIC upon lapse in federal funds

To make an appropriation to continue to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children contingent upon a lapse in federal funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill makes an appropriation to fund essential public assistance programs, directly impacting state budgeting and government spending.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), a public health program, and other programs (SNAP, TANF) that improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds public assistance programs (TANF, SNAP, WIC) that provide financial stability, indirectly helping vulnerable populations afford and maintain housing.65% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures continued funding for public assistance programs (SNAP, TANF, WIC), providing a safety net for low-income individuals and families, including those affected by unemployment or low wages.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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