Rep. Rick Dell'Aquila

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 summaryHB 530 amends state law to create a specific exemption from the smoking ban for establishments classified as "cigar bars." To qualify for this exemption, a business must derive more than 15% of its revenue from selling cigars and accessories, operate in a freestanding structure, and ensure its smoke does not leak into areas where smoking is prohibited. The bill also clarifies definitions for various smoking-related terms and outlines other existing exemptions, such as those for private residences, certain family-owned businesses, and outdoor patios that are properly separated from indoor spaces. This legislation directly affects the owners and operators of cigar bars by allowing them to legally permit smoking within their designated premises under specific conditions.

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 summaryHB 598 exempts retirement income, such as pensions and annuities, earned by public safety personnel from state income taxes. To offset the resulting loss in tax revenue, the bill requires the state budget director to automatically transfer a specific percentage of monthly tax receipts to the Local Government Fund and the Public Library Fund. These funds will then be used to reimburse local governments and libraries for the money they would have otherwise collected from the exempted retirees. The legislation also clarifies that this retirement income remains protected from legal actions like garnishment or bankruptcy proceedings.

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 summaryThis bill proposes increasing the percentage of state tax revenue automatically transferred to the Local Government Fund and the Public Library Fund. Specifically, it adjusts the allocation rates for these funds to ensure local governments and libraries receive a larger share of state tax income each month. The legislation requires the state budget director to create a schedule detailing which specific tax sources will be used for these monthly transfers and allows for future adjustments to that schedule. By modifying the statutory percentages, the bill directly affects how much funding local governments and public libraries receive from the state treasury.

Maddy summaryHB 561 prohibits for-profit companies from operating community schools in Ohio, requiring them to convert to nonprofit status by a specified deadline. If a for-profit operator fails to comply, the law mandates that the school's governing authority must appoint an educational service center to take over management and notify affected families. The bill defines community schools as public institutions that can be run by nonprofit organizations or educational service centers under contract with local school boards. This legislation directly impacts existing for-profit management companies and the public schools they currently oversee, ensuring these institutions remain under nonprofit control.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how points are tracked on commercial driver's licenses and expands the ability of drivers to take remedial driving courses. It shortens the time points remain on a commercial license from two years to one year and allows these drivers to earn point credits for completing approved safety courses more frequently, up to five times in their lifetime. While regular drivers can take a remedial course once every three years to remove two points, commercial drivers may do so once every year under the new rules. The legislation also clarifies suspension procedures, ensuring that time served in court-ordered suspensions counts toward any future suspensions resulting from point accumulation.

Maddy summaryHB 574 allows public school employees in Ohio to use their accrued sick leave to take time off for parental leave, which includes caring for a newly born, stillborn, or newly adopted child. The bill specifically applies to teachers and regular non-teaching staff, while excluding substitutes, part-time instructors, and seasonal workers. To qualify for this leave, an employee must provide a written statement from their employer justifying the absence, and the sick leave is deducted one hour for every hour of absence taken. Additionally, the legislation ensures that unused sick leave is preserved if an employee leaves and returns to public service within ten years.