Rep. Thomas Hall

Maddy summaryHB 486, the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, changes Ohio state education laws to allow teachers in public schools and state colleges to teach about Christianity's influence on U.S. history and culture. It amends specific sections of the Revised Code to explicitly permit this curriculum content in classrooms. The bill directly affects public school educators and faculty at state universities by expanding allowable teaching topics. This policy change modifies current restrictions on classroom instruction regarding religious influences in historical and cultural contexts.

Maddy summaryHB 338, "Andy's Law," increases criminal penalties for assaults or causing death of staff or inmates at Ohio state or local correctional facilities. It amends specific Ohio Revised Code sections to impose stricter sentencing for these offenses and updates policies and procedures for the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The law directly affects correctional facility staff, inmates, and the state's criminal justice system by changing how such incidents are prosecuted and managed. These changes focus on enhancing accountability for violence within correctional settings.

Maddy summaryHB 476 amends Ohio's Charitable Gaming Law to allow charities to conduct raffles online, rather than only in-person. It specifically updates sections 2915.01, 2915.092, and 2915.14 to authorize this new method of fundraising. The bill directly affects Ohio-registered charities that currently use raffles as a fundraising tool. The law declares an emergency to expedite implementation, making online raffles a legal option under the state's charitable gaming rules.

Maddy summaryHB 652 would change Ohio law to require insurers to provide policyholders with specific advance notice before nonrenewing their insurance policies. Currently, the law specifies certain time frames for these notifications; this bill amends Section 3937.26 and adds Section 3937.261 of the Revised Code to update those time frames. The key change is establishing clearer, more defined deadlines that insurers must meet when sending nonrenewal notices to customers. This directly affects Ohio residents who hold insurance policies (such as auto, home, or health insurance) by giving them more predictable notice periods before their coverage ends.

To amend sections 5104.015 and 5104.04 and to enact sections 5104.044, 5104.303, 5104.304, and 5104.361 of the Revised Code to require video surveillance of child care centers, to establish an online portal for tracking child care center attendance, to require investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse allegations relating to providers of publicly funded child care, and to name this act the Child Care Fraud Prevention Act.

Maddy summaryHB 656 would create a new criminal offense for negligently assaulting a peace officer in Ohio. It directly affects individuals who unintentionally cause harm to officers through careless actions, such as accidentally hitting an officer while driving recklessly. The bill amends existing Ohio law (sections 2903.14 and 2927.15) to add this specific offense, distinguishing it from intentional assault. This change would establish a clear legal category for careless harm to officers, separate from other assault charges.

Maddy summaryHB 662 increases penalties for disrupting religious gatherings at tax-exempt places of worship or virtual religious meetings. It raises the offense from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor (felony) when someone intentionally disturbs a physical religious service at a tax-exempt location or disrupts a virtual religious gathering using electronic means like video conferencing. The bill specifically targets acts that obstruct meetings, make disruptive gestures, or utter words that outrage the group, but only in these defined religious contexts. This change directly affects individuals who interfere with religious assemblies, both in person and online, by imposing stricter legal consequences.

To enact sections 3755.01, 3755.02, 3755.03, 3755.04, 3755.041, 3755.05, 3755.06, 3755.07, 3755.08, 3755.09, 3755.091, 3755.10, 3755.11, and 3755.12 of the Revised Code to create an independent verification organization license for verifying artificial intelligence risk mitigation.

To amend sections 323.12, 323.13, 325.31, 4503.06, 5709.56, and 5713.01 and to enact sections 323.123 and 5705.171 of the Revised Code to modify the law governing property taxes and other local taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 609 requires public bodies (like city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to allow public comment before taking formal action on any agenda item. The bill amends Ohio's Revised Code to mandate that these bodies set aside specific time during meetings for citizens to speak about topics under consideration. This change directly affects how local government meetings are conducted, ensuring community input is heard before decisions are made. The key provision is a procedural requirement for public bodies to incorporate public testimony into their meeting process prior to voting.