Rep. Beryl Piccolantonio

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution honoring the late Jo Ann Davidson, a former Ohio state legislator who served as the first female Speaker of the House. It formally expresses the House of Representatives' condolences to her family and acknowledges her significant contributions to Ohio public service and leadership. The resolution directs the Clerk to send an official copy of the document to Davidson's family as a gesture of respect.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September as Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day to highlight the issue of suicide among military veterans. The legislation amends the state code to officially recognize this specific month for awareness and prevention efforts, replacing any previous designations. By establishing this annual observance, the bill aims to increase public focus on mental health resources and support systems for veterans. The change is administrative and does not alter existing funding or create new programs, serving primarily as a symbolic gesture to promote dialogue on the topic.

Maddy summaryHB 466 requires licensed real estate brokers in Ohio to have a written agreement with clients before representing them in residential transactions involving one to four units or vacant land. This written contract must include specific details such as an expiration date, compensation terms, and mandatory statements about fair housing laws and illegal practices like blockbusting. The bill also mandates that brokers provide clients with a written policy explaining their agency duties, potential dual agency situations, and how the brokerage handles cooperation with other firms. Brokers must obtain a signed acknowledgment from the client receiving this policy, ensuring both parties clearly understand their rights and the nature of the representation.

Maddy summaryHB 226 allows water utility companies to include the costs of replacing customer-owned water service lines in their rate filings, shifting the financial responsibility for these replacements from individual homeowners to the utilities. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a specific valuation report that tracks these replacement costs and any reimbursements previously given to customers, ensuring these expenses are accounted for separately. By including these costs in the official property valuation, the legislation enables utilities to recover the expenses through future customer rates rather than requiring customers to pay directly for the work. This change applies to water-works companies operating in the state and aims to clarify how infrastructure replacement costs are calculated and billed.

Maddy summaryHB 179 clarifies how time limits work in lawsuits involving vicarious liability, such as when an employer is held responsible for an employee's actions. The bill removes the rule that pauses a lawsuit's deadline if the defendant leaves the state or hides, but it keeps this pause in effect for standard statutes of limitations while excluding specific statutes of repose. Additionally, the law simplifies who must be sued in these cases by allowing plaintiffs to sue the primarily liable employee without necessarily including the employer, except in medical, dental, legal, and other professional malpractice claims. This change aims to streamline legal proceedings and overrule a previous court decision regarding how these time limits are calculated.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals convicted of crimes while being victims of human trafficking to request the expungement of their criminal records. To qualify, applicants must prove by a preponderance of the evidence for misdemeanors or clear and convincing evidence for felonies that their participation in the offense resulted from their victimization. The process requires filing a detailed application with the sentencing court, which may hold a hearing where prosecutors can object and the judge evaluates specific factors such as the degree of duress and the seriousness of the crime. If approved, the conviction is legally treated as if it never occurred, and the court must notify relevant agencies to remove the record from public view. Applicants are responsible for paying a fifty-dollar fee to initiate the request, with a portion of those funds directed to state and county treasuries.

Maddy summarySB 56 ratifies the Interstate Massage Compact, allowing Ohio to join an agreement with other states to create a multistate licensing system for massage therapists. This new framework aims to increase public access to services, improve safety, prevent fraud, and assist military families by enabling licensed professionals to practice across state lines with a single authorization. The bill establishes an Interstate Commission to oversee the program, facilitates the sharing of disciplinary and investigative information between states, and ensures that a therapist's home state retains authority to enforce its own laws even when the professional is working in another member state.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Ohio to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, a national agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. The primary mechanism involves replacing the need for separate state licenses with a multistate authorization, provided the worker holds an unencumbered license in their home state. Key provisions include creating a shared data system to track licensure and disciplinary actions, establishing rules for mutual recognition of licenses, and ensuring that social workers remain accountable to the laws of the state where they are currently providing care. The legislation also specifically supports military families by facilitating practice in remote locations and encourages the use of telehealth to improve access to services.

Maddy summaryHB 2 amends state laws to allow the Ohio Department of Transportation to provide loans, grants, and credit support to local governments for specific infrastructure projects. These projects include building or improving roads, bridges, water systems, and waste disposal facilities that benefit communities. The bill requires that any financial assistance be approved by local committees and stay within the district's allocated budget from the state capital improvements fund. By defining terms like "capital improvement" and "credit enhancement," the legislation clarifies how state funds can be used to help local subdivisions finance public works.

Maddy summarySB 117 establishes two new academic entities at Ohio State University and the University of Toledo to focus on American constitutional thought, civics, and leadership. The bill creates the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State and the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership at the University of Toledo, both of which will offer specific courses, develop degree programs, and host events related to free speech and civil discourse. These new units are designed to recruit faculty with diverse intellectual backgrounds, appoint directors with tenure protections, and operate with a dedicated academic council to oversee hiring and curriculum development. The legislation also includes funding to support the creation of these centers and their initial operations within the respective universities.