Sen. Stephanie Kunze

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 28 as "Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Day" to honor Jo Ann Davidson, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. The legislation establishes this specific date as an official recognition in the state calendar to acknowledge her historic achievement. It does not alter any laws or policies but serves as a commemorative measure to highlight her legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 77 in Akron as the "American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Memorial Highway" to honor mothers who lost children in military service. The law officially names the northbound and southbound lanes between Interstate 76 and Lovers Lane and authorizes the state transportation director to place markers along the road to display this new title. By changing the official name of this roadway, the legislation provides a permanent tribute to the organization without altering traffic rules or road infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 90 in Cuyahoga County as the "Lance Corporal Jimmy Rizzo Memorial Highway" to honor a fallen service member. The law officially names the northeastbound and southwestbound lanes between East 55th and East 72nd Streets and authorizes transportation officials to install signs displaying this new title. This measure is a commemorative action that affects drivers and the public by formally recognizing the highway with a memorial name rather than changing any traffic rules or funding.

Maddy summarySB 173 classifies certain election officials as public service workers, which determines how their records are handled under state public records laws. The bill explicitly lists various types of confidential information, such as medical records, adoption files, and voter data, that are exempt from public disclosure. By designating these officials in this way, the legislation ensures that sensitive personal and operational details remain protected from public access. This change directly impacts how election offices manage and share information with the public and other government entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that honors Susan Elizabeth Burkey for her nearly thirty years of service to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. It recognizes her contributions to the agency's drafting, fiscal analysis, and research functions, highlighting her role in supporting fourteen legislative sessions. The resolution formally salutes her professional achievements and directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to her.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution honoring the memory of Jo Ann Davidson, a former Ohio politician and public servant. It formally expresses the state legislature's condolences to her family and pays tribute to her career achievements, including her historic role as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. The resolution also directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to Davidson's family.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Ohio to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, a national agreement that lets licensed physician assistants practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses for each location. Under the new rules, a physician assistant can provide care to patients in any participating state as long as they hold a valid license from their home state and meet specific requirements like passing a criminal background check and completing a jurisprudence exam. While the license remains tied to the state where the physician assistant is originally licensed, the compact simplifies the process for military families and others who need to move frequently by recognizing their existing credentials. State licensing boards retain the authority to discipline physician assistants who practice in their state, regardless of where the professional originally obtained their license.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September as Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day to highlight the issue of suicide among military veterans. The legislation amends the state code to officially recognize this specific month for awareness and prevention efforts, replacing any previous designations. By establishing this annual observance, the bill aims to increase public focus on mental health resources and support systems for veterans. The change is administrative and does not alter existing funding or create new programs, serving primarily as a symbolic gesture to promote dialogue on the topic.

Maddy summaryHB 251 designates a portion of State Route 120 as the "Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway" to honor Deputy Sheriff James Wert. The bill also updates the distribution rules for the "ALS Awareness" specialty license plate fund, directing contributions to the ALS Association of Ohio. Additionally, it clarifies how funds from various other specialty license plates are allocated to specific organizations for purposes such as cancer research, education scholarships, and community support programs. These changes affect the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which collects the fees, and the designated nonprofit organizations that receive the funds. The legislation became effective on October 24, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 226 allows water utility companies to include the costs of replacing customer-owned water service lines in their rate filings, shifting the financial responsibility for these replacements from individual homeowners to the utilities. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a specific valuation report that tracks these replacement costs and any reimbursements previously given to customers, ensuring these expenses are accounted for separately. By including these costs in the official property valuation, the legislation enables utilities to recover the expenses through future customer rates rather than requiring customers to pay directly for the work. This change applies to water-works companies operating in the state and aims to clarify how infrastructure replacement costs are calculated and billed.