Rep. Brian Lorenz

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for a state homeownership savings program to include active-duty military members who are residents of the state. It allows these service members to open savings accounts for home down payments and closing costs once they have filed permanent change of station orders. The legislation also requires state officials to report annually on the program's performance, including the number of accounts created and total funds contributed.

Maddy summaryThis bill enacts the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act to prohibit public schools from discriminating against individuals based on hair texture and protective hairstyles. The legislation directly affects students, educators, and school administrators by establishing clear legal protections against hair-based discrimination within the public education system. Key provisions require schools to adopt policies that ensure equal treatment regardless of hair type, thereby addressing a specific form of bias that can impact student participation and well-being. By codifying these protections into state law, the bill aims to create a more inclusive environment for all students in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 632 modifies the rules for conducting public auctions of real estate and personal property in Ohio to increase transparency and reduce potential conflicts of interest. The bill requires that land auctions be managed by independent private selling officers who are not affiliated with the lender or mortgage servicer, while allowing courts to approve these officers in specific cases. It also introduces new provisions for submitting remote bids via fax or email before the auction and allows lenders to postpone sales up to three times within 180 days. Additionally, the legislation establishes a process for lienholders to object to the use of a private selling officer if they believe a sheriff-led sale would better protect their financial interests.

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 summaryThis bill proposes to classify car condominiums as residential property for tax assessment purposes. It defines a car condominium as real property where owners hold individual rights to vehicle storage units and shared common areas. Under this change, the county auditor would reclassify these properties alongside homes and farms to potentially lower their tax rates, but the rule applies only to property tax calculations and not for any other legal or administrative uses.

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 30 requires county, municipal, and state correctional facilities to provide female inmates with free feminine hygiene products, including tampons and sanitary napkins in various sizes, based on their individual needs. The law mandates that these facilities create written policies to prevent discrimination in product distribution and establish safe procedures for storage, disposal, and hygiene. Additionally, the bill ensures that female inmates receive at least one daily shower with hot water unless the facility is facing a specific emergency, such as a riot or staff shortage. This legislation applies to all female inmates regardless of their charge, disability status, or disciplinary separation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends election laws to ensure that state ballot questions are numbered consecutively based on the sequence from the previous election, resetting to number one once the count reaches 500. It also establishes a specific order for grouping local issues on ballots, such as county and municipal questions, and requires that the percentage of votes needed to pass each measure be clearly printed. Additionally, the legislation mandates that full text for ballot proposals be posted at polling places if a condensed version appears on the ballot itself. These changes aim to standardize how voters see and number ballot measures while ensuring transparency about voting requirements.