COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Lawmakers will be back at Capitol Square on Tuesday after taking a few months off to campaign for the election.
With a limited number of sessions before the end of the year, leaders are setting their priorities, and Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said Republican infighting should not stall anything.
“From an ideological standpoint, [property legislation] should be easily passed,” he said. “I mean, these bills have been overwhelmingly supported by the House Republican caucus.”
Stephens said he has a number of things on his priority list, like House Bill 5, which would modernize the adoption process, and House Bill 7, a big spending bill for mothers and newborns.
“House Bill 7 we affectionately call our ‘Babies and Mama’s Bill,’ helping young mothers and newborn babies to have a better start,” he said. “We passed those. Those are in the Senate, and [we] would really like to see those bills come back to us during lame duck.”
Another priority bill is House Bill 8 which has been stalled in the Senate for more than a year now. The legislation would allow parents to opt their students out of “sexuality content” being taught in their public schools.
“The core of the legislation is to make sure parents know what’s going on at their schools and a lot of schools do that now already; we just want to make sure that parents have that information, and they have the ability to know what’s going on,” Stephens said.
Overall, Stephens said, most of what he wanted to accomplish was passed back in June, so said his “hope is we’re not here late at night.”
“Most of our big items that we’ve already passed,” he said. “Obviously, the budgets and the SAFE Act and a lot of our other priority bills that we’ve been able to pass.1”
Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said while the House Democrats have a list of priorities, it may be a balancing act.
“Unfortunately, I think we are also going to be playing defense,” she said.
At the top of Russo’s list are “fixes in the education space” and property tax relief.
“Republicans and Democrats are hearing from constituents about this issue. And we think that this is something that we should prioritize,” she said. “So, it will be a real focus for us, the House Democratic Caucus, going into lame duck.”
Stephens said that is “absolutely” a priority for Republicans as well.
For Gov. Mike DeWine, the official in charge of signing or vetoing what the legislature passes, he has one particular bill in mind he wants to see on his desk.
“We still have a situation where this hyped-up hemp is being sold at gas stations all over the state of Ohio and you’ve got young kids, there’s no age limit, kids are walking in there and buying this garbage,” DeWine said. “So, the legislature needs to take action.”
DeWine is referring to Delta-8 products, a low-level THC sometimes called “diet weed.” He has been advocating for restrictions on the product for nearly a year. Right now, it can be bought by any Ohioan at places like gas stations or convenience stores.
“There should be a sense of urgency about getting this done,” DeWine said.
Stephens said there have been conversations throughout the summer about passing some sort of Delta-8 related bill, but said it is about striking a balance.
“Keeping the free market out there, but also being smart that we protect people,” Stephens said.
Senate Bill 326, introduced by Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), introduced last week, would fully prohibit the sale of “intoxicating hemp products.” It has its first hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
There is plenty to watch for these next few weeks, but some other high profile-bills include legislation known as the bathroom bill. The House amended it in Senate Bill 104 before going on summer break, which means it now will only take one more vote by senators to be sent to the governor’s desk.
The House also has its third hearing for House Bill 445, a religious release bill for public school students. Opponents will testify on Tuesday. The Senate now also has its own version of the bill, which will have its first hearing on Tuesday. Companion legislation typically means its passage will be sped up.