Sen. Tim Schaffer

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 28 as "Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Day" to honor Jo Ann Davidson, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. The legislation establishes this specific date as an official recognition in the state calendar to acknowledge her historic achievement. It does not alter any laws or policies but serves as a commemorative measure to highlight her legacy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the Lancaster High School girls cross country team for winning the 2024 Division I State Championship. It specifically acknowledges the athletes' exceptional performance and praises Coach Teresa Tripp for her dedication in guiding the team to victory. The bill directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to the team as a formal tribute. This measure serves as a commemorative recognition rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 77 in Akron as the "American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Memorial Highway" to honor mothers who lost children in military service. The law officially names the northbound and southbound lanes between Interstate 76 and Lovers Lane and authorizes the state transportation director to place markers along the road to display this new title. By changing the official name of this roadway, the legislation provides a permanent tribute to the organization without altering traffic rules or road infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Interstate 90 in Cuyahoga County as the "Lance Corporal Jimmy Rizzo Memorial Highway" to honor a fallen service member. The law officially names the northeastbound and southwestbound lanes between East 55th and East 72nd Streets and authorizes transportation officials to install signs displaying this new title. This measure is a commemorative action that affects drivers and the public by formally recognizing the highway with a memorial name rather than changing any traffic rules or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that formally honors Andrew Walton, a student from Fairfield Union High School, for winning the 2024 Division II State Boys Cross Country Championship. The text acknowledges his first-place performance and expresses congratulations on his athletic achievement. It also directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to Walton as a gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution honoring the Fairfield Union High School boys cross country team for winning the 2024 Division II State Championship. It specifically recognizes the athletes and their coach, Rob Myers, for their athletic success and dedication. The resolution expresses appreciation for the discipline and perseverance the team gained through sports and directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to the school.

Maddy summarySB 215 prohibits foreign nationals from making financial contributions or expenditures to support or oppose ballot issues in elections. The bill directly affects campaign committees, political parties, and other groups that raise funds for election-related activities by banning them from accepting money from non-citizens for these specific purposes. Key provisions define what counts as a contribution and expenditure while clarifying that voluntary services and personal expenses do not fall under this restriction. This measure aims to restrict foreign influence in ballot issue campaigns without addressing contributions to candidate races or other political entities.

Maddy summarySB 316 creates a program to return state sales taxes collected on beer and wine to eligible music venues and festival promoters. To qualify, these businesses must meet specific criteria such as operating in smaller communities, providing live performances regularly, and compensating artists through ticket sales or guaranteed fees. Approved applicants can receive a rebate equal to the lesser of the taxes they paid on alcohol sales or $100,000, with a total annual cap of $10 million. The law requires recipients to use these funds exclusively for recruiting performing artists and bringing live music to the state, with the director of development responsible for reviewing applications and enforcing compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the ability of school districts to reallocate unvoted property tax millage and changes how emergency and substitute levies are counted in effective millage calculations. It requires the state tax commissioner to calculate specific percentage reductions for property taxes to ensure that tax rates do not drop below established minimums based on prior year collections. County auditors will apply these calculated reductions to property tax bills, with the tax commissioner retaining the authority to withhold state funds from districts that fail to comply with the reporting requirements. The legislation primarily affects school districts and property owners by standardizing how tax rates are determined and enforced across different property classes.

Maddy summarySB 226, titled the Ohio Property Protection Act, expands existing laws that restrict certain governments, businesses, and individuals from acquiring specific types of property in Ohio. The bill requires anyone transferring real estate or manufactured homes to submit a detailed statement declaring the property's value and affirming whether the transferor or transferee is legally prohibited from buying such land. If the property was previously used for agricultural purposes, the statement must also address potential tax recoupment charges that may apply when that status changes. Furthermore, the act mandates that county auditors refuse to process the transfer of protected property unless the required declarations are included, and it directs auditors to refer suspicious transactions to law enforcement for investigation.