Rep. Josh Williams

Maddy summaryHB 953 allocates state funds to support the fifth year of a program run by Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio. This legislation provides financial resources specifically for the organization's financial literacy education initiatives. The bill directs the Director of Budget and Management to track these funds and ensures they are used strictly for the designated program's operations.

To amend sections 2108.18, 2108.99, and 2919.14 of the Revised Code to expand the prohibitions on abortion trafficking and the sale of a product of human conception resulting from abortion.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Ohio laws to establish specific health and safety rules for the sale and manufacture of stuffed toys and bedding. It requires businesses to register with the state, mandates that all such items be properly labeled, and demands that secondhand products be sanitized before being sold. The legislation also defines key terms like "stuffed toy" and "secondhand" to clarify what items are covered and excludes certain materials used in recycling. Additionally, it provides a process for manufacturers to request exceptions from these rules if strict compliance is not necessary for public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of importuning and obstructing justice to address specific scenarios involving the solicitation of sexual activity. It directly affects individuals who attempt to engage in sexual conduct with minors, particularly by lowering the age threshold for certain offenses and adding protections against solicitation via telecommunications devices. Key provisions make it a crime to solicit anyone under sixteen, regardless of the offender's knowledge of the victim's age, and specifically criminalize attempts to meet with minors through phone or internet communications. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for repeat offenders and those with prior convictions, while also clarifying rules regarding law enforcement officers who may be posing as minors. The legislation also strengthens laws against obstructing justice by explicitly including actions that prevent someone from reporting a crime or assisting in its investigation.

To amend sections 4151.01, 4151.02, 4151.03, 4151.04, 4151.05, 4151.06, and 4151.07 of the Revised Code to require additional Ohio employers to use E-verify and to prohibit certain employment practices.

Maddy summaryHB 932 creates a new state law to criminalize the use of false or misleading information to obtain state funding or grants. This provision directly affects individuals and businesses attempting to secure financial assistance from state programs by making such deception a felony offense. The bill mandates a minimum five-year prison sentence and five years of post-release control for those who defraud the state of fifty thousand dollars or more. Additionally, any business owned or controlled by a convicted offender is permanently barred from receiving future state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 931 directs the state's Department of Administrative Services to take full control over the purchase, leasing, and management of all motor vehicles used by state agencies. The bill requires agencies to obtain prior approval for vehicle acquisitions and mandates that all fueling, repairs, and maintenance costs be approved by the department. Additionally, it establishes a statewide fleet management program that collects data on vehicle usage and costs to improve efficiency. This legislation primarily affects state agencies and their employees who operate or reimburse for the use of government vehicles.

To amend section 2945.21 of the Revised Code to enact the Fair Trial Protection Act to create a process for objecting to a peremptory challenge on the basis that the challenge is based on the prospective juror's race, color, religion, sex, military status, national origin, disability, age, or ancestry.

To amend sections 2929.15, 2929.16, 2929.25, 2967.131, and 2967.15 and to enact section 2903.217 of the Revised Code to enact the Adult Parole Authority Enhancement Act.

Maddy summaryHB 924 establishes a new loan repayment program for attorneys working as court-appointed public defenders in Ohio. Under this initiative, the state public defender office will repay up to $50,000 of eligible educational loans for lawyers who commit to working at least 1,000 hours per year for a total of ten consecutive years or fifteen nonconsecutive years within a twenty-year span. To qualify, applicants must have made timely monthly payments on their loans, not be enrolled in other federal or state debt forgiveness programs, and hold a license in good standing. The program is administered through rules set by the state public defender, which will include procedures for applications, verification of information, and public inquiries. Funding for these repayments will come from a dedicated state treasury account established to receive donations, gifts, and bequests specifically for this purpose.