To amend sections 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact section 3313.5321 of the Revised Code regarding broadcasts of middle and high school post-season interscholastic athletic contests.
Maddy summaryHB 59 requires all occupational licensing boards (like those for nurses, electricians, or contractors) to undergo regular reviews to determine if they still serve a public need. Each board must submit detailed reports on their purpose, costs, staffing, and effectiveness, and then prove to legislative committees that their regulation is necessary for public safety, not duplicative, and not unduly restrictive. Committees must evaluate boards using 23 specific criteria, including whether less restrictive alternatives exist or if the board serves private interests. This law directly affects every state occupational licensing board by shifting the burden to demonstrate continued necessity, rather than assuming boards should remain in place. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary regulations that could increase costs or hinder economic activity.
Maddy summaryHB 102 prohibits sex offenders and child-victim offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of a victim’s home or loitering within 1,000 feet of that home. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of sex offenses who are subject to residency restrictions under Ohio law. Key provisions establish clear distance limits: a 2,000-foot buffer for living near a victim’s residence and a 1,000-foot buffer for lingering or loitering. These changes aim to enhance safety for victims by limiting close proximity to their homes.
Maddy summaryHCR 13 is a resolution urging Congress to formally designate the Buckeye Trail as a National Scenic Trail. The bill does not create new law but requests federal action to recognize this 1,300-mile hiking trail, which runs through Ohio, as part of the National Scenic Trail System. It directly affects Ohio's trail system and potential federal management, though it has no binding effect on Congress. The key mechanism is a formal recommendation sent to the U.S. Congress, not a policy change enacted by Ohio. This is a procedural request, not a legislative action.
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 672 exempts vehicles towing farm machinery from standard vehicle size limits on public roads in Ohio. It directly affects farmers and agricultural transporters who move equipment like tractors or harvesters. The bill adds two conditions for this exemption: the towing vehicle must meet size limits without the machinery, or the operator must hold permits covering the combined dimensions. This change simplifies transporting large farm equipment without requiring special permits for routine movements.
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 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 section 5534.451 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of State Route 13 in Knox County as the "Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Vance M. Andrews Memorial Highway."
Maddy summaryHCR 21 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; its sole purpose is to formally acknowledge this historical milestone. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the Marine Corps' service and legacy. As a procedural measure, it has no direct legislative impact beyond commemoration.
