Rep. Dontavius Jarrells

Maddy summaryHB 537 prohibits suppliers from advertising a price for goods or services that excludes mandatory fees, requiring instead that the final cost be displayed clearly. The law defines mandatory fees as taxes and delivery charges, though it explicitly exempts financial transactions, broadband internet services, and food delivery platforms from this requirement. Additionally, the bill does not apply to motor vehicle pricing based on manufacturer suggestions or air transportation. Violations of this rule are classified as unconscionable acts in consumer transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 524, known as the Ohio Fairness Act, aims to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations. The bill expands the definition of "person" and "employer" to include a wide range of entities and individuals, ensuring broader coverage under state civil rights laws. It also adds mediation as an informal dispute resolution method available to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Additionally, the legislation explicitly preserves existing religious exemptions within Ohio's Civil Rights Law, maintaining protections for religious organizations and individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the state's criminal justice procedures to allow individuals to request a new trial or postconviction relief if they present new evidence that would likely change the original verdict. It specifically mandates that courts hold resentencing hearings for offenders whose death sentences are overturned due to specific legal errors, intellectual disability findings, or changes in the law. Under the new rules, if a death penalty is vacated, the court must resentence the individual to life imprisonment or a term of at least thirty years, unless the person previously waived the right to parole. Additionally, the legislation requires the State Criminal Sentencing Commission to monitor the impact of these changes on local government costs and the state correctional system.

Maddy summaryHB 560 establishes strict requirements for contracts between sponsors and community schools, ensuring these institutions operate as nonsectarian entities with clear academic goals and performance standards. The bill mandates that contracts include detailed provisions for student attendance, financial audits, facility costs, and teacher qualifications, while also requiring schools to maintain racial and ethnic balance reflective of their communities. Additionally, the legislation sets specific rules for how community schools must award high school credits and report their activities to sponsors and parents. These measures aim to standardize the governance and accountability of community schools without altering the core mission of implicit bias training mentioned in the bill's title.

Maddy summaryHB 606, known as the CAMPUS Act, requires Ohio institutions of higher education to adopt and enforce policies addressing racial, religious, and ethnic bias, harassment, and intimidation. Colleges and universities must provide training for staff and faculty on responding to hate incidents, establish procedures for investigating complaints with options for anonymous reporting, and create task forces focused on combating antisemitism and Islamophobia. The bill also mandates that state agencies develop antisemitism prevention policies and sets up a uniform system for colleges to report hate incidents annually to state officials. Additionally, the legislation creates two new grant programs: one to fund security measures for student safety and another to support intergroup and interfaith outreach activities.

Maddy summaryHB 534 creates a state program to replace lead service lines in Ohio's public water systems, aiming to complete the replacement of all such lines within fifteen years. The bill defines specific types of pipes that require replacement, including those made of lead and certain galvanized pipes connected to lead lines, and establishes a timeline for water system operators to identify and remove these pipes. To support this effort, the director of environmental protection will oversee the program, provide customer assistance, and collaborate with local authorities to help water systems find available grant funding. Additionally, the legislation sets up rules for prioritizing which lines get replaced first and ensures that information about funding sources is made available to the public online.

Maddy summaryHB 541 amends state labor laws to require school employees to report suspected violations involving minors under sixteen years of age. The bill also mandates that employers maintain accurate lists of minor employees and provides enforcement officials with the authority to verify the age of workers who appear to be under eighteen. Key provisions include creating a dedicated enforcement fund to hire staff, increasing penalties for violations, and allowing for the detention of minors who refuse to provide their age and residence information to officials.

Maddy summaryHB 525 amends state laws to increase penalties for assaulting school employees and volunteers, such as teachers, administrators, bus operators, and volunteers performing official duties like chaperoning students. The bill classifies such assaults as a felony of the fifth degree when they occur on school property, on school buses, or while the victim is engaged in school-related activities outside of school premises. This legislative change directly affects individuals who commit violent acts against those working in educational settings, ensuring they face stricter sentencing guidelines than under previous laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in the state to cover prostate cancer screenings for men who are at least forty years old and considered high-risk. Eligibility for this coverage is based on having a family history of prostate cancer or a personal diagnosis of a genetic alteration linked to increased risk. The law mandates that these screenings, which include tests like prostate-specific antigen checks and digital rectal examinations, be provided without any cost-sharing requirements such as copayments or deductibles. Additionally, the state insurance superintendent must create specific rules to define the types of tests covered and ensure screenings occur at least once every year.