Rep. Richard Brown

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 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 summaryHB 560 establishes strict requirements for contracts between sponsors and community schools, ensuring these institutions operate as nonsectarian entities with clear academic goals and performance standards. The bill mandates that contracts include detailed provisions for student attendance, financial audits, facility costs, and teacher qualifications, while also requiring schools to maintain racial and ethnic balance reflective of their communities. Additionally, the legislation sets specific rules for how community schools must award high school credits and report their activities to sponsors and parents. These measures aim to standardize the governance and accountability of community schools without altering the core mission of implicit bias training mentioned in the bill's title.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Ohio Revised Code sections to establish a formal appeals process for individuals facing decisions regarding family services programs, such as the Ohio pregnancy and parenting program. It clarifies which entities are considered "agencies" and defines "family services programs" to include various state-assisted initiatives. Under the new rules, individuals who disagree with program decisions can request a state hearing, which will be recorded but not transcribed unless ordered by a court. If dissatisfied with the hearing outcome, appellants may request an administrative review by the director of job and family services without needing another hearing. The bill also authorizes the department to adopt specific rules governing these hearings, setting time limits for agency compliance and outlining potential sanctions for non-compliance.

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 summaryThis bill establishes a new funding system for school bus transportation by defining specific metrics for student ridership and district density. It requires school districts to report their transportation data to the state department of education, which will then calculate statewide averages to determine a base payment for each district. The legislation creates a tiered funding formula that accounts for the number of students transported, the distance traveled, and the efficiency of bus usage relative to district size. Additionally, the bill sets a target number of students per bus for each district based on statewide median data adjusted for local density.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to support minority Ohio students who are currently in college and planning to attend law school. The state will provide funding to the Ohio State Bar Association to award $4,000 scholarships annually to an initial group of ten to twenty eligible students. In addition to financial aid, the program will offer test preparation materials, academic support, and mentoring events to help participants prepare for law school admission. The Ohio State Bar Association is responsible for setting the selection criteria and managing the program, while the state requires a detailed report on the pilot's outcomes and finances by January of the following year.

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.