Maddy summaryThis bill allows Ohio to join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, a national agreement that lets licensed physician assistants practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses for each location. Under the new rules, a physician assistant can provide care to patients in any participating state as long as they hold a valid license from their home state and meet specific requirements like passing a criminal background check and completing a jurisprudence exam. While the license remains tied to the state where the physician assistant is originally licensed, the compact simplifies the process for military families and others who need to move frequently by recognizing their existing credentials. State licensing boards retain the authority to discipline physician assistants who practice in their state, regardless of where the professional originally obtained their license.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill designates September as Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day to highlight the issue of suicide among military veterans. The legislation amends the state code to officially recognize this specific month for awareness and prevention efforts, replacing any previous designations. By establishing this annual observance, the bill aims to increase public focus on mental health resources and support systems for veterans. The change is administrative and does not alter existing funding or create new programs, serving primarily as a symbolic gesture to promote dialogue on the topic.
Maddy summarySB 156 amends the laws governing the designation and management of wild, scenic, and recreational rivers in Ohio. The bill primarily affects landowners, developers, and mining operations near these protected waterways by establishing specific buffer zones where surface and in-stream mining activities are prohibited. It sets strict distance limits from the highwater mark of designated rivers, ranging from 50 to 120 feet, depending on the size of the watershed the river drains. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that clearing snow or debris from undedicated roads in these areas does not constitute official approval of those roads by the township.
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 175 amends insurance regulations and taxes by requiring state agencies to conduct a comprehensive inventory of their existing rules that impose mandatory restrictions, such as those using terms like "must" or "shall." This inventory must detail the origin of each restriction, whether it is required by law or adopted under general authority, and be posted online while being transmitted to legislative leaders. The bill also mandates that beginning in October 2025, state agencies cannot adopt any new regulatory restriction unless they simultaneously eliminate at least two existing ones, with specific exceptions for emergency rules and internal management policies. Additionally, the legislation strengthens consumer protections for health insurance by requiring clear, concise evidence of coverage documents that list benefits, exclusions, costs, and contact information for assistance. These documents must be filed with the superintendent of insurance and cannot be used if they contain misleading statements or fail to meet the new transparency standards.
Maddy summaryHB 251 designates a portion of State Route 120 as the "Patrolman James R. Wert Memorial Highway" to honor Deputy Sheriff James Wert. The bill also updates the distribution rules for the "ALS Awareness" specialty license plate fund, directing contributions to the ALS Association of Ohio. Additionally, it clarifies how funds from various other specialty license plates are allocated to specific organizations for purposes such as cancer research, education scholarships, and community support programs. These changes affect the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which collects the fees, and the designated nonprofit organizations that receive the funds. The legislation became effective on October 24, 2024.
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.