HB 27 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Designate Specialist Jacob A. Ashton Memorial Bridge

Summary

To enact section 5534.90 of the Revised Code to designate the bridge spanning the Grand River in Lake County as the "Specialist Jacob A. Ashton Memorial Bridge."

Issues: ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Oct 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed Mar 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the Senate → As Enrolled · 3 edits · Dec 1, 2025

MINOR

This bill was finalized as an enrolled version with minor formatting and organizational changes. The substantive policy content remains the same, establishing a bridge memorial name and updating license plate contribution fund allocations. The changes primarily involve reformatting the bill header, removing page numbers and draft markings, and standardizing the legislative text structure.

TECHNICAL

Removed draft markings, page numbers, and formatting artifacts from the 'As Passed by the Senate' version to create a clean 'As Enrolled' final version suitable for publication and codification.

Reorganized the bill header to include 'Substitute House Bill Number 27' designation and standardized the act title formatting.

Consolidated and renumbered sections for clarity, removing line number annotations that were present in the draft version.

As Passed by the House → As Passed by the Senate · 13 edits · Oct 22, 2025

MAJOR

The bill was substantially expanded from a single bridge naming provision to a comprehensive license plate contribution program. The Senate version adds numerous new license plate programs that direct revenue to various charitable organizations, educational institutions, and community programs across Ohio. This significantly increases the bill's scope from a simple memorial designation to a major revenue-generating initiative for multiple causes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded dramatically from a single bridge naming provision to include dozens of new specialty license plate programs. The applicability now covers numerous charitable organizations, educational institutions, healthcare foundations, and community programs throughout Ohio.

FISCAL

Added extensive new license plate contribution programs directing funds to breast cancer, cancer support, autism, multiple sclerosis, pancreatic cancer, sickle cell disease, and numerous other health and charitable organizations.

Added new programs for educational institutions including Notre Dame, Marshall University, University of Alabama, Purdue University, West Virginia University, and various Ohio high schools and school districts.

Added programs for environmental and conservation organizations including Ducks Unlimited, Mahoning River Consortium, Glen Helen Association, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and various wildlife and nature organizations.

Added programs for law enforcement and veterans organizations including Fraternal Order of Police, Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission, and various veteran support organizations.

Added programs for youth organizations including 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and various youth development programs.

Added programs for various religious and fraternal organizations including Knights of Columbus, Masons, Elks, Moose, and various church-related organizations.

Added programs for specific Ohio schools and school districts including Canton, Solon, Padua Franciscan, St. Edward, Walsh Jesuit, and numerous others for student welfare and educational purposes.

Added programs for various local and community organizations including parks foundations, historical societies, and community development organizations.

Added provisions for the license plate contribution fund including investment earnings distribution requirements.

Added specific provisions for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation license plate program with updated naming and contribution requirements.

SCOPE

Changed the bill title and purpose statement to reflect the expanded scope from a single bridge naming to a comprehensive license plate contribution program.

Removed the original House version which only contained a single bridge naming provision without any license plate contribution programs.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed provisions for how license plate contributions must be distributed, including specific restrictions on how funds can be used by recipient organizations.

Floor votes · Senate Oct 22, 2025 · House Mar 26, 2025

How they voted

33–0

Passed

Total votes 33

Oct 22, 2025

D Democratic9

9 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican24

24 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Nov 21, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Sent To The Governor

legislature

Oct 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Concurred in Senate amendments

lower

Oct 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors