COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After hours of public testimony and debate, Ohio Senate Republicans made good on their promise to fast-track a highly contested bill aiming to reshape public higher education in the state.  

Senate Bill 1, known as the “Advance Ohio Education Act” by supporters and the “Higher Education Destruction Act” by opponents, got its first two votes in one day, advancing it to the Ohio House exactly two weeks after being introduced.    

If the bill sounds familiar, that is because the legislation was first proposed last general assembly but stalled in the Ohio House. 

After it failed, the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said he would bring the bill back, but with no concessions. 

“We continue to be firmly opposed to Senate Bill 1,” Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “We believe that it is the destruction of higher education here in the state of Ohio.” 

“This is about enhancing higher education,” Cirino said. “Certainly, I would never take part in anything that would destroy it.”  

The bill that passed the Senate 21-11 on Wednesday proposes prohibiting faculty from striking, eliminate any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices on college campuses, and creates a new course with prescribed required reading that every student needs to take before graduating. 

“I think you will continue to see huge public outcry against this piece of legislation because it is damaging to what I think is one of our best assets here in the state of Ohio,” Russo said. 

“This is a needed reform to enhance and make higher education in Ohio better,” Cirino said. “We have to constantly be moving the goal line here for us to be better to respond to the changes demographically and in the workforce demands for jobs and that our graduates are taking.” 

The bill now heads to the Ohio House, where lawmakers also have plans to fast-track it in that chamber.