To enact section 9.51 of the Revised Code to designate the Honor and Remember flag as the symbol of Ohio's concern and commitment to honoring and remembering the lives of all fallen service members and their families and to encourage that the flag be displayed at the Statehouse in Columbus on Memorial Day.
SB 346 creates a specialty license plate in Ohio featuring the 1905 Wright Flyer III aircraft, available to motor vehicle owners who pay an additional fee. Revenue from this plate will be distributed to specific non-profit causes, including breast cancer patient support, autism awareness, cancer research (like the St. Baldrick's Foundation), sickle cell disease services, and scholarships for veterans' children and students. The funds are allocated to designated organizations such as the Ohio Sickle Cell and Health Association, the University of Notre Dame for Ohio residents, and the Ben Morrison memorial fund for mental health scholarships. This bill does not affect standard license plate fees but adds a new plate option with revenue directed to these pre-defined programs.
To enact section 5534.654 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of State Route 13 in Richland County as the "Marine PFC Glenn S. Wingenbach, Jr. Memorial Highway."
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.
HB 721 creates a program to provide $1,000 annual grants to eligible veterans organizations in Ohio. These grants can be used for events honoring veterans or supplying veterans with basic necessities like food. The Director of Development will administer the program, requiring organizations to apply annually and submit sworn reports detailing how funds were spent. The bill appropriates state funds for this purpose and establishes rules for grant distribution and accountability.
To amend sections 4507.01, 4507.06, 4507.13, 4507.51, and 4507.52 of the Revised Code to allow a driver's license and a state identification card to indicate that the licensee or cardholder is a Gold Star Family member.
To enact section 5534.675 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of State Route 2 in Lake County as the "Specialist Lloyd Andrew Sellers Memorial Highway."
HB 100 creates a temporary grant program for nonprofit retailers (501(c)(3) organizations) that sell donated physical goods. To qualify, retailers must provide job training and employment services for people facing employment barriers like disabilities, homelessness, or criminal history. Eligible retailers can receive grants covering up to 25% of state sales tax revenue from donated goods sales, capped at $1 million per retailer annually. Grants must be used exclusively for job training programs serving disadvantaged workers, with annual reporting to the state.
To enact section 5534.966 of the Revised Code to designate the interchange of I-480 and West 150th Street in Cleveland as the "SPC Louis P. Shuster Memorial Interchange."
To amend sections 2903.01, 2929.03, and 2929.04 of the Revised Code to enact the Larry Henderson Act to specify that the penalty for aggravated murder for an adult offender is death or life without the possibility of parole if the victim is a peace officer, prosecutor, first responder, or military member.