Rep. Mark Johnson

To amend sections 323.152, 323.153, 323.158, 4503.06, 4503.066, 4503.067, 4503.068, 4503.069, and 4503.0610 and to enact section 4503.0612 of the Revised Code to authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes.

Maddy summaryHB 432 updates Ohio's career-technical education laws by strengthening oversight for community schools and clarifying substitute teacher licensing. The bill requires school sponsors to conduct monthly financial and enrollment reviews, report findings to officials, and provide technical assistance to ensure schools follow their contracts and maintain performance standards. It also establishes new rules for substitute teaching licenses, allowing educators with related degrees to teach for unlimited days or those with unrelated degrees to teach for one semester with approval. Additionally, the legislation sets a transition timeline for existing career-technical teachers to adopt new professional or workforce development licenses while permitting them to continue renewing their current credentials until the deadline.

Maddy summaryHB 145 sets minimum annual instructional hour requirements for Ohio schools. It requires nonchartered nonpublic (private) schools to meet specific hour standards (458 hours for kindergarten, 963 for grades 1-6, 1,154 for grades 7-12) and certify compliance annually to parents and the education department. Public school districts must maintain or increase instructional hours year-over-year without board approval, and must consider joint vocational school scheduling needs before changing calendars. The bill also mandates curriculum standards for private schools and prohibits them from receiving transportation or administrative reimbursements. These changes directly affect private school operators, public school boards, and parents reporting student enrollment.

To amend sections 323.152, 323.153, 4503.065, and 4503.066 of the Revised Code to authorize an enhanced property tax homestead exemption for certain long-term homeowners.

To amend section 5747.98 and to enact sections 1315.131, 5502.80, and 5747.87 of the Revised Code to levy a transfer fee on money transmissions, to authorize an income tax credit based on the amount of the transfer fees paid, and to name this act Ohio's Withholding Illegal Revenue Entering Drug Markets (WIRED) Act.

Maddy summaryHB 139 requires property owners and maintenance entities to regularly inspect and test fire hydrant systems, water pipes, and associated equipment. It mandates annual inspections for all fire hydrants (including after each use) and annual checks for water pipes, with flow tests every five years for main pipes. All testing, repairs, and maintenance must be documented and kept for at least one year, available for fire marshal review. The bill aims to ensure hydrant systems remain operational and compliant with fire safety standards.

Maddy summaryHB 99 removes specific nonprofit agricultural membership organizations from Ohio's insurance regulations. It defines these organizations as state-incorporated entities serving farmers' interests and providing healthcare coverage exclusively to members and their families. The bill clarifies that such healthcare coverage is not considered "insurance" under state law, exempting these organizations from Title XXXIX regulations and the superintendent of insurance's jurisdiction. This allows the organizations to provide healthcare benefits without insurance licensing while permitting reinsuring of related risks through authorized insurers.

To amend sections 3.02, 302.09, 305.02, 503.24, and 733.31 of the Revised Code to modify the procedures for filling vacancies in certain local elected offices.

To amend sections 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact sections 5.2322 and 3313.475 of the Revised Code to enact the Graduation Readiness and Development (GRAD) Act regarding exit orientation programs at public high schools and to designate September as "Workforce Development Month."

To enact section 3792.09 of the Revised Code to prohibit discrimination against an individual for the refusal of certain medical interventions for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions, and to name this act the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act.