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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 313, titled "Alyssa's Law," mandates that public and chartered nonpublic schools implement wearable panic alert systems for all staff members. These devices must be able to connect with local emergency response infrastructure to transmit campus-wide lockdown notifications and allow for immediate contact with police. The bill also requires annual training for school personnel on using these devices and ensures that security data, such as camera feeds and maps, is accessible to local law enforcement while keeping specific security details confidential. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Department of Education and Workforce to create rules necessary for protecting student and educator safety.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution that honors Susan Elizabeth Burkey for her nearly thirty years of service to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. It recognizes her contributions to the agency's drafting, fiscal analysis, and research functions, highlighting her role in supporting fourteen legislative sessions. The resolution formally salutes her professional achievements and directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to her.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution honoring the memory of Jo Ann Davidson, a former Ohio politician and public servant. It formally expresses the state legislature's condolences to her family and pays tribute to her career achievements, including her historic role as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. The resolution also directs the Senate Clerk to send an official copy of the tribute to Davidson's family.
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.
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 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 168 establishes a statewide education management information system to centralize and standardize data collection across school districts. The bill requires districts to annually report detailed metrics on student performance, attendance, disciplinary actions, and graduation rates, alongside specific data on instructional and support services provided to students. To ensure privacy, the system must include strict safeguards to protect personally identifiable student information while allowing for the reporting of behavioral incidents without naming individuals. This legislation directly affects school administrators and state education officials by mandating new reporting guidelines and data standards that take effect on October 24, 2024.
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 summarySB 94 updates the laws governing how county recorders handle real estate documents, fees, and public access to records. The bill clarifies that recorders must log the precise time instruments are received and gives them the authority to refuse recording documents they reasonably believe are fraudulent or unauthorized, while also allowing individuals to seek court orders if their documents are wrongly rejected. It mandates that counties provide electronic methods for recording property deeds and other instruments by June 2025, requiring free public access to electronic indexes and document copies with optional password protection. Additionally, the legislation establishes specific fee structures for recording and certifying documents, including a surcharge intended to fund the preservation and digitization of public records.