Rep. Sean Brennan

Maddy summaryHB 264 amends state laws to clarify how steam-producing facilities can recover waste energy for efficiency purposes. The bill primarily affects industrial and commercial entities that operate steam systems by updating the legal framework governing their energy recovery efforts. It achieves this by revising specific sections of the state's energy code to include these facilities within the scope of existing energy efficiency regulations. This change ensures that such facilities are covered under the same rules designed to promote energy conservation and reduce waste.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to provide funding to state and private nonprofit colleges and universities that aim to reduce student food insecurity. The program prioritizes institutions with higher percentages of Pell grant-eligible students and allows funds to support existing basic needs infrastructure, build partnerships, and raise awareness about available resources. To qualify for a "hunger-free campus" designation, institutions must offer free meals or emergency funds to students in need and implement at least three specific measures, such as providing accurate information on food assistance programs, designating a staff contact for help, and conducting regular surveys on student food security. The bill also requires the Chancellor of Higher Education to create a tiered grant system where institutions with existing designations receive larger awards and mandates annual reporting on how the grants impact food security.

Maddy summaryHB 569 reinstates the Joint Education Oversight Committee, a bipartisan body composed of representatives and senators appointed by their respective chamber leaders. The committee is authorized to study current education policies, evaluate how state funds are used by schools and universities, and review specific programs to ensure they meet their goals and are managed efficiently. It can request data from state agencies, hire staff to assist its work, and submit reports with recommendations to the General Assembly, though its reviews do not stop the legislature from passing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 575, titled the Private School Accountability and Transparency Act, establishes new financial reporting and assessment requirements for chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio. The bill mandates that these schools provide specific data to state authorities and outlines how students enrolled in private institutions must participate in standardized testing, including provisions for accommodations and potential exemptions based on individualized education plans. Additionally, the legislation sets rules for the ethical use of test results and prioritizes contracts for grading assessments with Ohio-based entities employing local residents. By updating existing sections of the Revised Code, the bill aims to increase transparency and ensure that private school students are included in the state's educational accountability framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires food service operations to clearly mark menu items that contain specific allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. The law directly affects restaurants, cafeterias, and other establishments that serve food by mandating that they list these ingredients on their menus or menu boards. By making this information readily available, the measure aims to help customers with dietary restrictions identify safe food options. This change applies to all food service businesses operating within the jurisdiction where the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the EdChoice Fair Fiscal Responsibility Act, modifies the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program to adjust how students qualify for public funding to attend private schools. It primarily affects students currently enrolled in low-performing public schools or those living in districts with high poverty rates, as well as families who have already received scholarships under the pilot program. The legislation establishes new eligibility criteria based on recent school performance rankings and district poverty levels, while also ensuring that current scholarship recipients can continue their funding until they graduate high school if they meet ongoing attendance and testing requirements. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for when the state will stop issuing new scholarships to schools or districts that no longer meet the established performance or poverty thresholds.

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 summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover epinephrine and glucagon for individuals aged eighteen and younger when a provider deems them medically necessary. It mandates that these emergency medications be included in coverage without imposing cost-sharing amounts that exceed a specific cap, such as sixty dollars per package of autoinjectors. Additionally, the legislation restricts Medicaid providers from waiving copayments while ensuring that patients cannot be denied care solely because they cannot pay these fees. The measure aims to ensure consistent access to these life-saving treatments for minors across different insurance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows townships to vote on a special tax to fund school resource officers for local school districts. Under the legislation, a school district must first certify that its current revenue is insufficient to cover the cost of these officers. If approved by a two-thirds vote of the township trustees, the measure goes to a public ballot where voters decide whether to levy the tax, which can last up to five years. Any tax revenue collected under this plan must be used exclusively to pay for the school resource officers and can be renewed through a future vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for companies offering earned wage access services, which allow workers to receive a portion of their earned but unpaid income before their regular payday. It directly affects businesses that provide these financial services to employees and independent contractors in the state. The legislation requires such providers to obtain a certificate of registration from the state's financial institutions division and mandates background checks on key officers, including reviews of criminal, civil, and credit histories. Additionally, the bill sets specific fees for registration and investigation, while also integrating these providers into a nationwide multistate licensing system to streamline compliance across state lines.