Sen. Andrew Brenner

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2 amends state laws to allow the Ohio Department of Transportation to provide loans, grants, and credit support to local governments for specific infrastructure projects. These projects include building or improving roads, bridges, water systems, and waste disposal facilities that benefit communities. The bill requires that any financial assistance be approved by local committees and stay within the district's allocated budget from the state capital improvements fund. By defining terms like "capital improvement" and "credit enhancement," the legislation clarifies how state funds can be used to help local subdivisions finance public works.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Refugee Road in Fairfield County as the "Cpl. David A. Johnston Memorial Highway" to honor Corporal David A. Johnston. The affected roadway runs between State Route 256 and Pickerington Road Northwest, and the state transportation director is authorized to install signs marking the new name. This change is purely commemorative and does not alter traffic rules, funding, or any other operational aspects of the road.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of United States Route 33 in Fairfield County as the "Lance Corporal James F. Kimple Memorial Highway" to honor Lance Corporal James F. Kimple. The legislation officially changes the name of the road segment located between Coonpath Road Northwest and Pickerington Road Northwest. It also authorizes the director of transportation to install signs along the highway to display the new memorial name.

Maddy summarySB 117 establishes two new academic entities at Ohio State University and the University of Toledo to focus on American constitutional thought, civics, and leadership. The bill creates the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State and the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership at the University of Toledo, both of which will offer specific courses, develop degree programs, and host events related to free speech and civil discourse. These new units are designed to recruit faculty with diverse intellectual backgrounds, appoint directors with tenure protections, and operate with a dedicated academic council to oversee hiring and curriculum development. The legislation also includes funding to support the creation of these centers and their initial operations within the respective universities.

Maddy summaryThis Ohio Senate Resolution urges the U.S. Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize mental health care for military personnel and veterans suffering from PTSD and other service-related stress disorders. The bill calls for prompt and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing that only qualified medical professionals should approve such care. It also requests that the government fully implement recommendations to consider mental health conditions before separating service members for misconduct and advocates for correcting discharge records for those separated due to mental health issues. Additionally, the resolution states that a veteran's civilian income should not affect their eligibility for healthcare benefits.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution expresses support for consumer choice in Ohio's automotive market by opposing government mandates that would require the transition to all-electric vehicles. The bill argues that such mandates would harm consumers by limiting affordable options, threaten jobs in the internal combustion engine sector, and strain the state's electricity infrastructure. It urges the Biden Administration to ensure federal regulations do not directly or indirectly force the purchase of electric vehicles. The resolution is a symbolic statement of principle rather than a law that creates new rules or penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill expresses the Ohio General Assembly's intent to update the rules governing the automatic closure of underperforming community schools and school buildings managed by local school districts. The legislation specifically targets existing statutes that currently dictate when these institutions must be shut down or converted, aiming to refine those legal requirements. By declaring this intent, the bill sets the stage for future legislative action to modify how school districts handle closures related to poor academic performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state laws to allow local governments, such as cities and counties, to regulate short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO. It defines these rentals as properties offered to travelers for thirty days or less and permits local authorities to set rules on noise, occupancy limits, safety, insurance, and emergency contact availability. However, the legislation explicitly prevents local governments from banning short-term rentals entirely or using a lottery system to grant access to them. Additionally, the bill mandates that all real estate licenses issued by the state must be in electronic format rather than on paper.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Ohio counties to impose a new transfer tax on the sale of real estate and manufactured homes to generate revenue for local housing initiatives. Counties must hold public hearings before adopting this tax, which would be paid by the seller at the time of the property transfer. The collected funds would first cover administrative costs, with the remainder split between the county's general fund and a dedicated housing fund. Money in the housing fund must be used for specific programs such as low-income housing, first-time home buyer assistance, disability housing, or transition housing.