Sen. Hearcel Craig

Maddy summarySB 140 defines "freestanding birthing center" as a facility providing low-risk pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care without hospital licensing. It requires all such centers to have a written plan for transferring patients to a hospital during complications. Accredited centers (by the Commission for Accreditation of Birth Centers) are exempt from needing a formal hospital transfer agreement, while non-accredited centers must establish one with a local hospital. The bill, introduced in 2025, would affect birthing centers and their patients by setting specific operational standards for emergency transfers.

To amend sections 9.04, 9.07, 120.03, 120.041, 120.06, 120.14, 120.16, 120.18, 120.24, 120.26, 120.28, 120.33, 120.34, 149.43, 149.436, 149.45, 1901.183, 2152.13, 2152.67, 2301.20, 2307.60, 2317.02, 2701.07, 2743.51, 2901.02, 2909.24, 2929.02, 2929.13, 2929.14, 2929.61, 2930.19, 2937.222, 2941.021, 2941.14, 2941.148, 2941.401, 2941.43, 2941.51, 2945.06, 2945.10, 2945.13, 2945.21, 2945.25, 2945.33, 2945.38, 2949.02, 2949.03, 2953.02, 2953.07, 2953.08, 2953.09, 2953.10, 2953.21, 2953.23, 2953.71, 2953.72, 2953.73, 2953.81, 2967.05, 2967.12, 2967.13, 2967.193, 2967.194, 2971.03, 2971.07, 3901.87, 5101.56, 5120.113, 5120.53, 5120.61, 5139.04, and 5919.16 and to repeal sections 109.97, 120.35, 2725.19, 2929.021, 2929.022, 2929.023, 2929.024, 2929.025, 2929.03, 2929.04, 2929.05, 2929.06, 2945.20, 2947.08, 2949.21, 2949.22, 2949.221, 2949.222, 2949.24, 2949.25, 2949.26, 2949.27, 2949.28, 2949.29, 2949.31, and 2967.08 of the Revised Code to abolish the death penalty, to modify the number of jurors that may be challenged in cases where a defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment, and to prohibit public funding for the use of lethal injection drugs in nontherapeutic abortions, assisting suicide, and executing a death sentence.

To amend sections 9.47, 9.66, 107.03, 107.21, 117.55, 121.02, 121.03, 121.35, 122.01, 122.011, 122.012, 122.013, 122.014, 122.02, 122.03, 122.04, 122.041, 122.042, 122.05, 122.06, 122.07, 122.071, 122.073, 122.075, 122.077, 122.08, 122.081, 122.082, 122.083, 122.085, 122.086, 122.087, 122.088, 122.089, 122.0810, 122.0811, 122.0812, 122.0813, 122.0814, 122.0815, 122.0816, 122.0817, 122.09, 122.10, 122.11, 122.121, 122.131, 122.132, 122.133, 122.134, 122.135, 122.136, 122.14, 122.15, 122.151, 122.152, 122.153, 122.154, 122.155, 122.156, 122.16, 122.17, 122.171, 122.172, 122.173, 122.174, 122.175, 122.176, 122.177, 122.178, 122.179, 122.1710, 122.1711, 122.18, 122.19, 122.20, 122.21, 122.22, 122.23, 122.24, 122.25, 122.26, 122.27, 122.29, 122.291, 122.30, 122.31, 122.32, 122.33, 122.35, 122.36, 122.37, 122.38, 122.401, 122.403, 122.406, 122.4017, 122.4018, 122.4019, 122.4020, 122.4023, 122.4024, 122.4030, 122.4031, 122.4032, 122.4033, 122.4034, 122.4035, 122.4036, 122.4037, 122.4040, 122.4043, 122.4044, 122.4045, 122.4046, 122.4050, 122.4051, 122.4055, 122.4063, 122.4070, 122.4071, 122.4073, 122.4075, 122.4076, 122.4077, 122.41, 122.42, 122.43, 122.44, 122.45, 122.451, 122.46, 122.47, 122.48, 122.49, 122.52, 122.53, 122.54, 122.55, 122.56, 122.561, 122.57, 122.571, 122.58, 122.59, 122.60, 122.601, 122.602, 122.603, 122.604, 122.605, 122.61, 122.62, 122.63, 122.631, 122.632, 122.633, 122.64, 122.641, 122.6510, 122.6511, 122.6512, 122.67, 122.68, 122.681, 122.69, 122.70, 122.701, 122.71, 122.72, 122.73, 122.74, 122.75, 122.76, 122.77, 122.78, 122.79, 122.80, 122.81, 122.82, 122.84, 122.85, 122.851, 122.852, 122.86, 122.88, 122.89, 122.90, 122.91, 122.92, 122.921, 122.922, 122.923, 122.924, 122.925, 122.94, 122.941, 122.942, 122.951, 122.9511, 122.9512, 122.96, 123.01, 123.22, 125.08, 125.081, 125.111, 125.20, 125.836, 125.901, 126.023, 126.32, 126.62, 140.01, 145.035, 149.311, 150.02, 151.40, 153.59, 164.02, 165.01, 165.03, 165.20, 166.01, 166.02, 166.03, 166.04, 166.05, 166.06, 166.07, 166.08, 166.09, 166.12, 166.13, 166.14, 166.15, 166.16, 166.17, 166.18, 166.19, 166.20, 166.21, 166.25, 166.27, 167.02, 169.05, 173.08, 174.01, 174.02, 174.03, 174.04, 174.05, 174.06, 174.07, 175.03, 175.04, 175.06, 175.15, 176.01, 176.07, 184.01, 184.151, 184.16, 187.01, 187.03, 187.04, 187.05, 187.061, 191.02, 191.03, 191.10, 191.13, 191.15, 191.17, 191.19, 191.27, 191.30, 191.33, 191.35, 191.37, 191.40, 191.44, 191.45, 308.21, 321.261, 321.262, 333.03, 333.04, 333.05, 340.13, 703.34, 709.024, 709.192, 715.70, 715.72, 902.04, 991.02, 1517.14, 1551.01, 1551.05, 1551.06, 1551.11, 1551.12, 1551.15, 1551.19, 1551.20, 1551.311, 1551.32, 1551.33, 1551.35, 1555.02, 1555.03, 1555.04, 1555.05, 1555.06, 1555.08, 1555.17, 1728.01, 1728.07, 3326.02, 3327.17, 3333.373, 3333.50, 3366.01, 3366.03, 3366.04, 3735.27, 3735.39, 3735.66, 3735.671, 3735.672, 3735.673, 3735.69, 3742.32, 3746.121, 3746.20, 3775.04, 3780.03, 3780.19, 4121.123, 4164.04, 4164.12, 4301.17, 4303.181, 4303.262, 4503.591, 4582.58, 4901.021, 4906.02, 4928.06, 4928.43, 4928.51, 4928.52, 4928.53, 4928.54, 4928.543, 4928.544, 4928.55, 4928.56, 4928.57, 4928.58, 4928.581, 4928.582, 4928.583, 4928.61, 4928.62, 4928.63, 4928.75, 4929.16, 4929.161, 4929.163, 4981.02, 4981.03, 5101.16, 5104.30, 5117.02, 5117.03, 5117.04, 5117.05, 5117.07, 5117.071, 5117.08, 5117.09, 5117.10, 5117.12, 5117.22, 5119.34, 5120.07, 5126.071, 5126.18, 5501.031, 5531.08, 5703.0510, 5709.12, 5709.211, 5709.212, 5709.22, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.45, 5709.48, 5709.51, 5709.61, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.631, 5709.632, 5709.633, 5709.64, 5709.66, 5709.67, 5709.671, 5709.68, 5709.69, 5709.73, 5709.78, 5709.82, 5709.87, 5709.88, 5709.882, 5717.02, 5725.32, 5725.33, 5726.54, 5726.55, 5726.59, 5727.75, 5729.032, 5729.16, 5733.33, 5733.34, 5733.352, 5733.58, 5733.59, 5747.01, 5747.331, 5747.51, 5747.66, 5747.67, 5751.52, 5751.54, 5751.55, 6111.12, 6121.02, and 6123.031 and to enact sections 122.634 and 122.635 of the Revised Code to rename the Department of Development to the Department of Housing and Development and to otherwise modify the law related to housing.

Maddy summarySB 139 designates May 13 as "Judge Nathaniel R. Jones Day" in Ohio. The bill creates a ceremonial observance to honor Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, a civil rights attorney, judge, and law professor born on that date in Youngstown, Ohio. It does not create new legal requirements or affect any individuals or policies. The bill is purely commemorative, recognizing Jones' contributions to civil rights. The designation would be added to Ohio's Revised Code as section 5.295.

Maddy summaryHB 107 officially designates a specific stretch of Interstate 90 in Cleveland, running between East 72nd and East 105th Streets, as the "Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick Memorial Highway." This change directly affects drivers and travelers using that portion of the interstate by formally naming it in honor of a local firefighter. The bill authorizes the state director of transportation to install physical signs along the road to display the new name. Once effective, this legislation serves as a permanent commemorative marker rather than altering any traffic rules or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 432 updates Ohio's career-technical education laws by strengthening oversight for community schools and clarifying substitute teacher licensing. The bill requires school sponsors to conduct monthly financial and enrollment reviews, report findings to officials, and provide technical assistance to ensure schools follow their contracts and maintain performance standards. It also establishes new rules for substitute teaching licenses, allowing educators with related degrees to teach for unlimited days or those with unrelated degrees to teach for one semester with approval. Additionally, the legislation sets a transition timeline for existing career-technical teachers to adopt new professional or workforce development licenses while permitting them to continue renewing their current credentials until the deadline.

Maddy summarySB 130 would establish April as "Arab American Heritage Month" through state law. This designation formally recognizes Arab American contributions within the state's calendar of observances. The bill creates a specific annual observance period without altering existing laws or providing new funding. It directly affects how the state acknowledges and commemorates Arab American history and culture.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 42) formally honors Scott W. Stockman for his ten years of service to the Ohio Senate, specifically recognizing his roles as a legislative assistant, legal counsel, and staff advisor supporting the Senate Democratic Caucus. It commends his contributions to the legislative process and efficiency of state government, with the Senate committing to send him a certified copy of the resolution. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

To amend sections 2903.13 and 2917.41 and to enact section 306.20 of the Revised Code to increase the penalty for assault when the victim is an operator of an Ohio transit system bus or rail car; to authorize Ohio transit systems to post a sign regarding abuse or assault of staff; and to increase the penalty for evading payment of the known fares of a public transportation system.

Maddy summarySB 121 designates April as "Counseling Awareness Month" in Ohio state law. This procedural bill adds a formal designation to the Revised Code, encouraging public awareness efforts related to counseling services. It directly affects Ohio residents by promoting recognition of counseling resources during April, though it does not create new programs or funding. The bill is currently pending in committee after being introduced on February 25, 2025.