Rep. Brett Hillyer

Maddy summaryHB 380 designates specific highways and bridges across multiple Ohio counties with memorial names to honor individuals who served in law enforcement, the military, or firefighting. The bill authorizes the state director of transportation to install official markers along these roads and bridges to display the new names. Directly affected parties include the general public traveling on these routes and the families of the honored individuals, while the Ohio Department of Transportation is responsible for implementing the signage. This legislation does not alter traffic laws, funding, or road maintenance responsibilities but serves primarily as a commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 378 expands the definition of a qualifying homestead to include surviving spouses of service members who were killed in the line of duty, allowing them to receive a full property tax exemption. The bill specifically defines "killed in the line of duty" to cover deaths from injuries sustained during service, including heart attacks or illnesses caused by service-related stress. To be eligible, the surviving spouse must occupy the home and acquire ownership after the service member's death, provided the deceased was not discharged under dishonorable conditions. This legislation aims to provide financial relief to families of fallen service members by reducing their real estate tax burdens.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies, political subdivisions, and nonresidential construction contractors to use the E-Verify system to confirm the identity and legal work eligibility of their employees. It applies to public contractors and subcontractors working on construction or maintenance projects, as well as private employers with 75 or more workers and nonresidential construction companies. While the law mandates verification for all new hires and assigned workers, it allows for a waiver if an employee's status was previously confirmed by the same employer. Contracts that do not include these verification provisions are considered void, and agencies found in violation face a fine of five thousand dollars per incident.

Maddy summaryHB 164 establishes a Foster-to-College Scholarship Program in Ohio to provide financial aid to students who entered foster care or noncertified kinship care after their thirteenth birthday. The bill also requires the Department of Education to hire a full-time school foster care liaison to help keep these students in their original schools or ensure a smooth transition to a new school when necessary. The scholarship covers the remaining cost of attendance at a college or university after subtracting all other federal, state, and private financial aid the student receives. Private colleges may choose not to participate in the program, and the funds are paid directly to the educational institution where the student is enrolled.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes Lexi Tucci, a student at Sandy Valley High School, as a 2024 Division III State Track and Field Champion for her first-place high jump performance. The resolution praises her athletic achievements and character, noting her first-place leap of 18 feet at the state meet. It directs the Clerk of the House to send an official copy of the resolution to Tucci to acknowledge her accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Ohio's state education board to update high school financial literacy and entrepreneurship standards to include specific concepts about free market capitalism. The new curriculum for grades nine through twelve must teach students that raw materials, labor, and capital are privately owned, that individuals control their own work and earnings, and that market prices help consumers and producers make informed decisions. It also mandates that these standards explain how wealth is created through profit-seeking transactions and how free markets drive entrepreneurship and innovation. Additionally, the legislation directs the state board to develop these academic standards independently rather than as part of a multi-state group and to include related political features like property rights and contract enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution honoring the life and public service of Ronald Mottl, Sr., who recently passed away. It formally expresses the House of Representatives' condolences to his family and acknowledges his significant contributions as a politician, educator, and community leader in Ohio. The measure directs the Clerk of the House to send an official copy of the resolution to Mottl's family as a tribute to his legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 367 amends Ohio law to strengthen protections against the unauthorized commercial use of a person's name, voice, image, or likeness, commonly known as the right of publicity. The bill explicitly prohibits creating or using deepfake recordings that reasonably confuse viewers into believing the depicted individual actually performed the action, extending these protections to living people and their estates for up to sixty years after death. To use someone's persona for advertising, fundraising, or commercial products, the bill requires obtaining written consent from the individual or their legal heirs, while exempting uses related to news reporting, sports broadcasts, and political campaigns. Additionally, the legislation clarifies who has the authority to grant consent and who can file a lawsuit for violations, ensuring that only those with majority ownership or specific written authorization can pursue legal action.

Maddy summaryHB 372 requires drivers of vehicles and trackless trolleys to stop within fifty feet of a railroad crossing under specific conditions, such as when warning signals are active, gates are lowered, or there is insufficient space or clearance to cross safely. The law mandates that operators of buses, school vehicles, and large trucks must stop, look, and listen before proceeding, while also prohibiting gear shifts while crossing the tracks. Violations of these rules are classified as misdemeanors, but courts may offer offenders the option to complete a rail safety training program instead of facing fines or jail time. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for the Public Utilities Commission to approve certain crossings as "exempt," allowing vehicles to cross without stopping if the commission determines it is safe after a public hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 24 as "Ukraine Independence Day" in Ohio to formally recognize the date Ukraine declared itself an independent, sovereign, and democratic nation. The legislation requires the state to acknowledge this specific day in official records or ceremonies as a symbol of Ukrainian statehood. It does not alter existing laws or create new government programs, but rather establishes a commemorative observance within the state.