Sen. Sandy O'Brien

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 215 prohibits foreign nationals from making financial contributions or expenditures to support or oppose ballot issues in elections. The bill directly affects campaign committees, political parties, and other groups that raise funds for election-related activities by banning them from accepting money from non-citizens for these specific purposes. Key provisions define what counts as a contribution and expenditure while clarifying that voluntary services and personal expenses do not fall under this restriction. This measure aims to restrict foreign influence in ballot issue campaigns without addressing contributions to candidate races or other political entities.

Maddy summarySB 311 allows students who qualify for certain special needs scholarships to also receive an Educational Choice or Pilot Project scholarship in the same school year, provided the total funding does not exceed the cost of their tuition and fees. The bill also clarifies eligibility rules for students who are no longer receiving special education services, permitting them to transition to general educational choice scholarships while maintaining their status as eligible students. Additionally, the legislation defines specific terms such as "eligible applicant" and "qualified special education child" to ensure clarity for parents, guardians, and school districts administering these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the ability of school districts to reallocate unvoted property tax millage and changes how emergency and substitute levies are counted in effective millage calculations. It requires the state tax commissioner to calculate specific percentage reductions for property taxes to ensure that tax rates do not drop below established minimums based on prior year collections. County auditors will apply these calculated reductions to property tax bills, with the tax commissioner retaining the authority to withhold state funds from districts that fail to comply with the reporting requirements. The legislation primarily affects school districts and property owners by standardizing how tax rates are determined and enforced across different property classes.

Maddy summarySB 226, titled the Ohio Property Protection Act, expands existing laws that restrict certain governments, businesses, and individuals from acquiring specific types of property in Ohio. The bill requires anyone transferring real estate or manufactured homes to submit a detailed statement declaring the property's value and affirming whether the transferor or transferee is legally prohibited from buying such land. If the property was previously used for agricultural purposes, the statement must also address potential tax recoupment charges that may apply when that status changes. Furthermore, the act mandates that county auditors refuse to process the transfer of protected property unless the required declarations are included, and it directs auditors to refer suspicious transactions to law enforcement for investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes renaming a specific bridge in Hubbard, Ohio, to the "Hubbard First Responders Bridge." The structure in question is located at the intersection of Mock Street and East Park Avenue and is part of U.S. Route. If passed, the state director of transportation would be authorized to install physical markers on the bridge or its approaches to display the new name. This measure is a commemorative resolution that directly affects the local municipality and the state transportation department.

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.