Rep. Allison Russo

Maddy summaryHB 683 provides additional funding to soil and water districts and the Farm Financial Management Institute through the Department of Agriculture. The bill allocates specific operating appropriations for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years to support these entities' ongoing work, including analysis of the upcoming federal farm bill. It also authorizes a $500,000 cash transfer from the Controlling Board Emergency Purposes/Contingencies Fund to the OSU Extension Fund. These financial resources are intended to supplement existing budgets and ensure continued operations for the affected agricultural programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution honoring the memory of Barbara C. Pringle, a former Cleveland City Council member and long-serving Ohio state representative. It formally acknowledges her contributions to public service and directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the tribute to her family. The measure does not enact new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial gesture to express sympathy and respect for her life and legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants excused absences to members of the House of Representatives during specific weeks in May and December 2024. It applies to both majority and minority party members, who must submit written requests to their respective party leadership offices to qualify for the leave. The measure was adopted on December 11, 2024, to allow legislators to be absent from sessions during those designated times without penalty.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals from knowingly installing tracking devices or apps on someone else's property without their consent. It also requires the removal of such devices if the original consent is revoked, with consent automatically considered revoked in situations like divorce filings or protection orders. The law includes specific exceptions for law enforcement, parents tracking their own children, caregivers of vulnerable adults, and licensed private investigators working on legitimate business matters.

Maddy summarySB 109 amends Ohio Revised Code sections related to sex offenses and individuals regulated by the State Medical Board to update the definition of "public record." The bill expands the list of confidential records to include various sensitive categories, such as protected health information, donor profiles, and details about children involved in traffic accidents with school vehicles. By clarifying what information remains private, the legislation aims to protect personal data held by government agencies and other public offices. This change directly affects state departments, courts, and medical boards that manage these records, ensuring they adhere to the new confidentiality standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state laws to clarify the authority of advanced practice registered nurses, specifically allowing them to provide medical certificates that justify the use of sick leave by public employees. It defines rape crisis programs and sexual assault for the purpose of creating a new trust fund to support victim services, while also updating sick leave policies for various public sector workers. The legislation ensures that unused sick leave can be carried over and transferred between agencies, and it permits appointing authorities to set alternative sick leave schedules under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill specifies that medical certification for sick leave may be provided by licensed physicians, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, or certified nurse practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for a state homeownership savings program to include active-duty members of the uniformed services. Under the new rules, these service members can open savings accounts to build funds for home down payments and closing costs, provided they apply after their permanent change of station orders. The legislation also requires state officials to issue an annual report detailing the program's participation numbers, total contributions, and financial performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ask residents about their willingness to become organ donors when they apply for hunting or fishing licenses. It expands the ways people can register as donors by allowing them to indicate their choice on driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, or through specific forms and online links for hunting and fishing permits. The legislation also clarifies that a donor's choice remains valid even if their driver's license is revoked or suspended and provides legal protections for state officials who follow these new procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for suspending local elected officials who face felony charges related to their official duties. It requires prosecutors to notify the state's highest court when such charges are filed, triggering a review process by a special panel of retired judges. The legislation also allows the accused official to request a provisional suspension of their duties while the case is under review, but it prevents courts from considering whether the defendant showed genuine remorse if they entered an Alford plea. Additionally, the bill updates procedures for sealing and expunging criminal records.

Maddy summaryHB 184 amends state laws to clarify how charitable organizations, sales promotions, and solicitation professionals are defined and regulated. The bill expands the definition of a charitable organization to include groups that hold themselves out as serving public safety or other benevolent purposes, even if their contributions are not tax-deductible. It also updates definitions for terms like "professional solicitor" and "fund-raising counsel" to better distinguish between paid agents and volunteers or in-house staff. By refining these legal categories, the legislation aims to provide clearer rules for how charities and their partners operate when asking for donations or conducting fundraising events.