Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson

Maddy summaryHB 158 amends state laws to clarify definitions of controlled substances and establish specific weight thresholds for what counts as a "bulk amount" of drugs. The bill also introduces new legal definitions for terms like "drug abuse offense" and "harmful intoxicant," which includes volatile solvents and aerosol propellants. Additionally, the legislation allows the state to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact to streamline professional licensing for cosmetologists and barbers. These changes update existing regulations to better address drug-related offenses and modernize professional standards.

Maddy summarySB 112, known as the Ohio Childhood Safety Act, requires all school buildings in Ohio to have their protective door assemblies inspected and tested annually by qualified professionals. These inspections ensure that doors used for emergency exits meet current safety standards, with older doors needing to comply with the rules in place when they were originally installed. If a door is found to be non-compliant, the school must fix the issue immediately and have it re-inspected, while schools actively working toward compliance are exempt from fines. The bill also mandates that schools keep records of these inspections and allows the state fire marshal to review those records, though no monetary penalties will be assessed for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens protections against fraudulent business filings and deceptive mailings by requiring third-party service providers to clearly label their communications as advertisements and provide specific contact information. It prohibits these entities from including names or addresses on official documents without the explicit consent of the individuals involved and bans any language that makes filings appear to be issued by a government agency. The legislation also establishes a formal complaint process where affected individuals can report violations to the secretary of state, who is then authorized to investigate and refer potential criminal cases to prosecutors.

Maddy summarySB 94 updates the laws governing how county recorders handle real estate documents, fees, and public access to records. The bill clarifies that recorders must log the precise time instruments are received and gives them the authority to refuse recording documents they reasonably believe are fraudulent or unauthorized, while also allowing individuals to seek court orders if their documents are wrongly rejected. It mandates that counties provide electronic methods for recording property deeds and other instruments by June 2025, requiring free public access to electronic indexes and document copies with optional password protection. Additionally, the legislation establishes specific fee structures for recording and certifying documents, including a surcharge intended to fund the preservation and digitization of public records.

Maddy summaryHB 466 requires licensed real estate brokers in Ohio to have a written agreement with clients before representing them in residential transactions involving one to four units or vacant land. This written contract must include specific details such as an expiration date, compensation terms, and mandatory statements about fair housing laws and illegal practices like blockbusting. The bill also mandates that brokers provide clients with a written policy explaining their agency duties, potential dual agency situations, and how the brokerage handles cooperation with other firms. Brokers must obtain a signed acknowledgment from the client receiving this policy, ensuring both parties clearly understand their rights and the nature of the representation.

Maddy summaryHB 226 allows water utility companies to include the costs of replacing customer-owned water service lines in their rate filings, shifting the financial responsibility for these replacements from individual homeowners to the utilities. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to create a specific valuation report that tracks these replacement costs and any reimbursements previously given to customers, ensuring these expenses are accounted for separately. By including these costs in the official property valuation, the legislation enables utilities to recover the expenses through future customer rates rather than requiring customers to pay directly for the work. This change applies to water-works companies operating in the state and aims to clarify how infrastructure replacement costs are calculated and billed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private schools, as well as public recreational facilities, to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and create emergency plans for their use. It mandates that staff at these locations complete training on AEDs and that student athletes receive education about sudden cardiac arrest before participating in sports. Additionally, the law prohibits students with a family history of sudden cardiac arrest or those who have fainted from playing sports until they are medically cleared, and it requires coaches to complete specific training. Local governments must also provide hospital relief payments related to these cardiac events, and the Ohio Department of Health is tasked with developing a model emergency action plan to guide schools and facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 56 increases penalties for drivers who flee from law enforcement and engage in stunt driving, while also requiring police agencies to provide specific training on motor vehicle pursuits. The bill expands the definition of aggravated vehicular homicide to include deaths or serious injuries caused by reckless or negligent driving in construction zones, even if the offense was only a minor speeding violation. Additionally, it reclassifies certain driving-related fees to be collected by county clerks and directs those funds toward title administration costs and clerical pay supplements. These changes apply to anyone operating vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and utility trucks, with stricter consequences for repeat offenders or those driving without a valid license.

Maddy summaryHB 179 clarifies how time limits work in lawsuits involving vicarious liability, such as when an employer is held responsible for an employee's actions. The bill removes the rule that pauses a lawsuit's deadline if the defendant leaves the state or hides, but it keeps this pause in effect for standard statutes of limitations while excluding specific statutes of repose. Additionally, the law simplifies who must be sued in these cases by allowing plaintiffs to sue the primarily liable employee without necessarily including the employer, except in medical, dental, legal, and other professional malpractice claims. This change aims to streamline legal proceedings and overrule a previous court decision regarding how these time limits are calculated.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals convicted of crimes while being victims of human trafficking to request the expungement of their criminal records. To qualify, applicants must prove by a preponderance of the evidence for misdemeanors or clear and convincing evidence for felonies that their participation in the offense resulted from their victimization. The process requires filing a detailed application with the sentencing court, which may hold a hearing where prosecutors can object and the judge evaluates specific factors such as the degree of duress and the seriousness of the crime. If approved, the conviction is legally treated as if it never occurred, and the court must notify relevant agencies to remove the record from public view. Applicants are responsible for paying a fifty-dollar fee to initiate the request, with a portion of those funds directed to state and county treasuries.