Sen. Bill Blessing

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all county, municipal, and state correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services to inmates and other offenders. Facilities must ensure access is not restricted beyond standard procedures and must maintain a specific ratio of operable phones in housing units and yards. The legislation also prohibits facilities from generating revenue from these calls and mandates regular reporting on contracts, spending, and usage data to the General Assembly. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these communication services cannot replace in-person visitation programs.

Maddy summaryHB 70 requires all public and private schools to create policies governing the administration of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs to students. For prescription medications, the bill mandates that schools establish clear rules on which staff members are authorized to administer drugs and sets strict requirements for parental consent, detailed medical instructions from prescribers, and secure storage in locked areas. The legislation also provides legal protection for school employees who follow these approved policies, shielding them from civil liability unless they act with gross negligence. Additionally, the bill gives schools the flexibility to decide whether their staff can administer over-the-counter medications and whether they require parental permission to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Ohio Constitution to increase the number of state representatives from 99 to 153 and state senators from 33 to 51, effective January 1, 2025. It establishes a seven-member redistricting commission composed of state officials and party-appointed members to draw new district maps based on population data. The commission must hold public hearings, operate with bipartisan oversight, and adopt a final district plan by September of the next year ending in one. Additionally, the bill sets term limits for legislators and specifies that the commission will be dissolved four weeks after adopting a plan.

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 Senate Resolution honors the Madeira High School girls soccer team for winning the 2024 Division V State Championship. The bill formally commends the players and their coach, Dan Brady, for their athletic achievements and displays of sportsmanship. It directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to the team as a tribute to their success.

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 summaryThis bill regulates how businesses in the state use pricing algorithms, which are computer programs that set or suggest prices for products and services. It specifically prohibits companies from using these algorithms if they are trained on or rely on nonpublic competitor data, such as private pricing information from rival firms. The law also establishes a legal presumption that a company has conspired against fair trade if it distributes such an algorithm to multiple users who then set prices in the same market. While the bill defines various terms like "commercial terms" and "trust" to clarify its scope, it aims to prevent automated systems from facilitating coordinated price-fixing among competitors.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to how citizens in Ohio can introduce new laws through signature petitions, requiring a specific number of voter signatures to bypass the legislature and place a measure directly on the ballot. It establishes a detailed timeline and process for submitting petitions, including rules for verifying signatures and challenging their validity in court before an election. Additionally, the bill grants laws passed by voters via this process immunity from the governor's veto and prevents the state legislature from amending or repealing those laws for two years without a special majority vote.

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.