Sen. Stephanie Kunze

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution honoring the memory of Barbara C. Pringle, a former Ohio state representative and Cleveland City Council member who recently passed away. The measure formally expresses the Senate's condolences to her family and pays tribute to her long career in public service and her contributions to her community. It directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to Pringle's family as a gesture of respect.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates July as Sarcoma Awareness Month to increase public understanding of sarcoma, a type of cancer that affects both humans and dogs. The legislation also officially names the act "Hank's Law" in honor of a specific individual, though it does not create new legal requirements or funding. By adding this designation to the state code, the bill aims to encourage community awareness and support for those impacted by the disease.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the memory of Marigene Valiquette, a former Ohio state representative and senator who passed away. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to her family and acknowledges her significant contributions to public service, including her leadership roles and advocacy for women's rights. The resolution also directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to Valiquette's family.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Columbus Public Health for receiving the National Association of County and City Health Officials' National Champion of Local Government Public Health Award. It recognizes the agency's work in protecting community health through specific initiatives like anti-violence programs, lead-free policies, and a flavored tobacco ban. The Senate formally congratulates the agency and directs the Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to the department.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Ohio to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, a national agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. The primary mechanism involves replacing the need for separate state licenses with a multistate authorization, provided the worker holds an unencumbered license in their home state. Key provisions include creating a shared data system to track licensure and disciplinary actions, establishing rules for mutual recognition of licenses, and ensuring that social workers remain accountable to the laws of the state where they are currently providing care. The legislation also specifically supports military families by facilitating practice in remote locations and encourages the use of telehealth to improve access to services.

Maddy summaryHB 161 removes the legal protection that previously prevented spouses from being charged with or prosecuted for specific sexual offenses against each other. This change directly affects married couples by allowing a spouse to testify against their partner in court for crimes such as rape, sexual battery, and sexual imposition. The bill eliminates the defense that a crime did not occur simply because the victim and offender were married or living together at the time. Additionally, the legislation permits a person to give testimony against their spouse in any prosecution involving these listed offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 195 creates a new adaptive mobility dealer license to regulate businesses that sell electric personal assistive mobility devices and low-speed micromobility devices. The bill amends existing vehicle definitions to explicitly exclude these specific devices from the standard "vehicle" and "motor vehicle" categories used in state law. By establishing a distinct classification, the legislation allows dealers to operate under a separate license tailored to the unique needs of adaptive mobility equipment rather than general vehicle sales regulations. This change directly affects businesses selling mobility aids and ensures these items are handled through a specialized licensing framework.

Maddy summaryHB 269 designates a portion of State Route 7 in Muskingum County as the "Sgt Bradley J. Harper USMC Memorial Highway" to honor a Marine. The bill also amends the law governing the "ALS Awareness" specialty license plate fund, specifying that contributions collected for this plate must be transferred to the ALS Association of Ohio. These funds are restricted to supporting programs that provide assistance, education, and clinical trial access to individuals with ALS, while explicitly prohibiting their use for abortion-related activities. The legislation is effective as of August 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally congratulates the London Correctional Institution in Ohio on reaching its 100th anniversary. It recognizes the facility's work in rehabilitation and its staff's efforts to maintain a safe and humane environment for inmates. The resolution does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official commendation from the state legislature. A copy of this recognition will be sent to the institution by the Senate Clerk.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows mothers who are breastfeeding infants one year of age or younger to be excused from jury service. It achieves this by adding breastfeeding to the list of conditions that constitute "undue or extreme physical or financial hardship" under existing state laws. To qualify for an exemption, a mother only needs to provide a signed affidavit stating she is breastfeeding, which serves as sufficient documentation for the court. The exemption applies only for the specific jury year in which the request is made and does not grant permanent immunity from future jury duty.