This report reflects the latest happenings in government relations, in and around the Ohio statehouse. You’ll notice that it’s broad in nature and on an array of topics, from A-Z. This will be updated on a weekly basis.
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ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Suburban and rural areas of Southwest Ohio enjoyed the highest total funding and single biggest earmark in OneOhio Recovery Foundation's latest "Grant Award Wednesday," when the agency announced funding approaching $1.5 million in Region 14 north and east of Cincinnati, including $1 million to the Clermont County Mental Health Board.
FY24-25 BUDGET
The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) reported Friday that preliminary estimates of November's revenues show them coming in nearly 3 percent below estimates. Specifically, the state was nearly $76.9 million or 2.9 percent below estimates for the month. The state, however, continues to run ahead of estimates for FY25 by nearly a half billion dollars -- $493.6 million or 4.4 percent over estimates. The total revenue for November 2024 was $2.612 billion as opposed to the projected income of $2.689 billion. However, this is still $76.3 million more than was collected in November 2023, which saw the state pull in $2.536 billion.
FY26-27 BUDGET
With a software platform built to handle 10,000 applications straining under a volume 15 times greater, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) is working on a new system to handle EdChoice and other scholarship programs. As part of its FY26-27 budget request submitted to the governor, DEW completed a worksheet for "major information technology" projects. DEW requested $5.5 million in each year of the upcoming biennium for the system, though until it picks a vendor the exact project cost is unknown. DEW wrote that it has established a steering committee for the project and is working with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) on bid specifications.
Draft budget plans for the new Department of Children and Youth (DCY) show the agency looking to serve families up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level with child care assistance, though it does not specify precisely how. The income threshold to enter the publicly funded child care (PFCC) program is now at 145 percent of poverty, while the DeWine administration recently created the Early Care and Education Child Care Choice Program to support families earning from 146 percent to 200 percent of poverty. DCY proposes to use more federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support child care programs. "The Department of Children and Youth will utilize a larger portion of TANF for child care services to support families enrolling up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level through the publicly funded child care and child care choice programs," the agency request states. The budget request does not specify if the department is seeking specifically to increase the income threshold for PFCC, nor would the administration in response to questions from Hannah News.
As 2024 and the 135th General Assembly wind down, Gov. Mike DeWine was relatively tight-lipped Thursday on specifics of his forthcoming and final executive budget proposal but said the themes would be familiar from his prior efforts. The governor spoke to reporters Thursday morning after an annual holiday breakfast he hosts for the Statehouse press corps. "As we are formulating a budget, I don't think there's going to be huge surprises. Our focus is for every Ohioan to be able to live up to their God-given potential -- did any of you have a bet on how many times I would say that?" he joked. "To do that we're going to stay focused. We're going to stay focused on education -- K-12, preK. We're going to stay focused on removing barriers, which is mental health, drug addiction," he said. "The focus is going to remain on investing in our people."
CHILDREN/FAMILIES
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) announced this week that the administration is investing $2 million into expanding the Ohio Child Protective Services Fellowship Program to help strengthen the pipeline of college students going into the children services workforce. Under the fellowship program, college students majoring in human services-related fields like psychology, family science and sociology can apply to work part-time at county public children services agencies (PCSAs) -- where they will receive training and hands-on experience in these in-demand jobs.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
David Pearson, a former Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) commander, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court Monday, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Pearson was charged in connection with the accidental shooting death of Lt. Rodney Osborne at the state's Correctional Training Academy in April.
DISASTERS
Gov. Mike DeWine authorized on Monday the use of the State Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) for six Southern Ohio counties significantly affected in September by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION
The DeWine administration recently announced the awarding of over $56 million as part of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, with 37 projects set to receive funding in the latest round. That money is expected to leverage around $715 million in private investments, according to the administration.
ECONOMY
Beth Hammack, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, discussed the country's economic outlook and the Federal Reserve's policy efforts to aid disinflation during a City Club of Cleveland forum on Friday afternoon. Before diving into her outlook on the economy, Hammack said that the country is now largely beyond the extreme market fluctuations brought by the coronavirus pandemic, but that some issues are still lingering.
EDUCATION
The State Board of Education (SBOE) on Monday discussed changes to education licensure under proposed updates to administrative rule 3301-24-05. Jim Wightman, assistant director of the Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, was joined by Jason Wagner, chief counsel to the board, to discuss the administrative rule changes initiated by HB33 (Edwards) and SB168 (Reynolds). Under HB33, lawmakers consolidated three licensure grade bands into two. They subsequently passed SB168, which includes language that allows teachers who were licensed under the old bands to either renew their license under the old grade bands or convert to one of the new grade bands, according to Wightman. Those seeking to convert to new bands will need to have an old license with some grade band overlap with the new license.
The Senate Education Committee further amended but did not vote Wednesday morning on HB8 (Swearingen-Carruthers), which restricts instruction on sex and gender topics, mandates disclosure to parents information about student wellbeing and requires schools to adopt policies allowing release time for religious instruction during the school day. Named by sponsors as the "parent's bill of rights" and dubbed by critics as a "don't say gay" measure, the bill has been pending in the committee for more than a year and appeared to pick up steam recently. The committee did not hear testimony but accepted one amendment, AM3232-1. Sen. Sandra O'Brien (R-Rome), the committee vice chair, moved the amendment and said it would create exceptions to disclosure requirements where they would conflict with federal law; specify that nothing in HB8 prohibits mandatory reporting under state law; and specify that nothing in the bill prohibits or limits career counseling and academic mentoring between a teacher and student. Also starred for a possible vote but not moving Wednesday was HB206 (Click), which would update local superintendents' powers to expel students and extend those expulsions for student behavior.
The House Technology and Innovation Committee heard a presentation Wednesday from TECH CORPS National Executive Director and CEO Lisa Chambers on the organization's work, which Chambers said has involved direct support to nearly 25,000 students and 550 educators. TECH CORPS has also engaged over 2,000 technology professionals as volunteers. A majority of those students are in urban areas as much of their funding comes from businesses investing "in their backyard," she explained further, but they are working to do more in rural communities as well.
EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday the nation added 227,000 jobs in November, while the unemployment rate changed little at 4.2 percent. Employment increased in health care, leisure and hospitality, government, and social assistance while retail jobs fell during the month.
ENERGY/UTILITIES
The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) has approved more than $1.6 million in bond financing to support energy-efficiency improvements for a building conversion of a vacant historic church into a modern event venue. Financial assistance for the project, located at 118 W. 9th St. in Cincinnati, is being provided through OAQDA's small business assistance program that now allows for energy-efficiency upgrades, OAQDA said in a news release. This is the first assistance OAQDA is providing through its statewide authority for the use of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) at the approval of a local government partner. The city of Cincinnati approved the PACE assessment in October, OAQDA said.
ENVIRONMENT
After hearing sponsor testimony on placeholder legislation approximately six months ago, the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee is now considering a more detailed version of carbon capture technology bill HB358 (Robb Blasdel). The committee on Wednesday accepted a substitute version of HB358, which Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) said was the result of months of work with interested parties.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
The House and Senate separately Monday released their session schedules for January through June of 2025, with a spring break targeted for mid-April in both. Per the Ohio Constitution, both chambers will have opening session the first Monday of the year. This year that is Monday, Jan. 6.
Following the House Rules and Reference Committee meeting Monday morning, House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) discussed their respective stances on rumored Senate amendments to HB8 (Swearingen-Carruthers), known as the “parents bill of rights.” Asked whether the House would concur with a potential Senate amendment to include HB445 (Cutrona-Click), regarding school district policies for released time in religious instruction, within HB8 (Swearingen-Carruthers) -- which is tagged for a possible vote by the Senate Education Committee on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 10 and 11 -- Stephens reiterated his hope for a "clean" parents bill of rights.
The Capitol Square Foundation has received a $1 million anonymous gift to support construction of the Ohio Women's Monument planned for the Ohio Statehouse, according to a Monday release. The gift was given in tribute to Jo Ann Davidson, the first female speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, who died earlier this year, according to the release.
The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review's (JCARR) last meeting of the year Monday was a first for the statutory agency and legislative committee. Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), who has served the Legislature for a majority of the last two decades, took his freshman turn on JCARR, replacing Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin). The day also launched a new chapter for Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood), who has served on the committee for 13 and a half years but departs the General Assembly at year's end. Kunze and Rep. Brett Hillyer (R-Dennison) also leave the Statehouse and JCARR on Dec. 31, having lost their general and primary elections, respectively. Co-Chair Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) announced formal commendations for all departing members. The hearing was otherwise quiet, with no members holding agenda items for comments or questions and no witnesses providing testimony.
Tuesday’s House session included passage of HB660 (Mathews-Edwards), which would change name, image and likeness (NIL) laws for college athletes; HB274 (Mathews-Dell’Aquila, to increase the homestead exemption; SB62 (Reineke-Brenner), an omnibus day and state fish designation bill; SB195 (Manning), legislation to establish the Ohio Ireland Trade Commission to which was attached HB469 (Blasdel-Jones), which would create the Ohio River Commission; SB109 (Hackett), regarding sex offenses by medical providers, to which the House attached HB89 (Hillyer-Abdullahi), regarding intimate examinations; SB95 (Reynolds), regarding remote pharmacy dispensing, to which the House had attached SB60 (Gavarone), regarding mental health assistants; HB125 (Mathews-Santucci), regarding income tax deductions for 529 plans and ABLE accounts; HB694 (Hillyer), to implement recommendations of the Sunset Review Committee; SB6 (Schuring), to bar environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investing by state pensions, universities and the Bureau of Workers Compensation; SB63 (Lang), regarding asbestos lawsuits; SB100 (Manning-Antonio), prohibiting the use of tracking devices on someone’s property without their consent; SB196 (Roegner), regarding advanced practice nurses; SB206 (Hackett), regarding abandoned or derelict aircraft; SB257 (Chavez-Johnson), allowing active-duty military service members to participate in the homeownership savings linked-deposit program; and HR562 (Mathews), regarding federal patent rights. The chamber concurred with Senate amendments to HB185 (Bird-Brennan), regarding charitable solicitation; HB234 (Williams-Rogers), regarding suspension of local officials who are charged with a felony; and HB256 (K. Miller-Creech), requiring the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ask about organ donation when a person applies for a hunting or fishing permit.
House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) told reporters Tuesday he did not know what bill may be used to pass a pay raise for elected officials, calling it "moving parts that are under consideration." "The pressure to do it now is to get it in effect for next year, because if you do it any time after the end of this year it would not take effect because there's a constitutional provision against in-term increases in pay," Seitz continued. "So that's the urgency to do it now if you're going to do it." He also said the increase is needed due to years of "rampant inflation" which the 1.75 percent pay increase granted through his previous bill in 2018 did not account for.
County and township government omnibus bills picked up a raft of additional amendments Tuesday on their way out of the Senate Local Government Committee. Undergoing the lengthiest list of changes was HB315 (Hall-Seitz), the typical township government catchall for this General Assembly, which saw amendments related to public notice requirements and economic development programs, among many others. The county government omnibus, HB497 (Stewart-Klopfenstein), also saw several amendments.
The Senate Education Committee Tuesday folded language requiring schools to adopt a policy that authorizes students to be excused from school to attend released time religious instruction (RTRI) into HB8 (Swearingen-Carruthers), known as the "parents bill of rights.” The committee accepted substitute bill 0545-11 along party lines. The sub bill adds language from HB445 (Cutrona-Click), and its companion bill in the Senate, SB293 (Reynolds), into HB8.
The Senate Financial Institutions and Technology Committee accepted and reported out a substitute bill Tuesday adding election-related provisions to HB74 (Hall-Lightbody), which previously addressed the state's information technology systems and shared services.
Wednesday’s House session included passage of SB58 (Johnson-Gavarone), which bars local governments from requiring liability insurance or fees for gun ownership, into which was amended SB148 (Johnson), the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. A coalition of Democrats and Republicans tabled an amendment seeking to add HB51 (Loychik-Schmidt), the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which critics argued would interfere with local-federal law enforcement cooperation. The chamber also passed SB237 (Gavarone-Manning), to bar strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP); SB163 (Kunze), an omnibus license plate bill; SB210 (Sykes-Reynolds), an omnibus designations bill; SB208 (Roegner), regarding open enrollment for military children; SB157 (Lang), regarding contract law, hearing aid coverage and other topics; SB130 (Wilson), regarding notaries, which also includes name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation HB660 (Mathews-Edwards); SB37 (Blessing-Ingram), regarding transportation and public safety; SB198 (Lang-Manning), requiring adult and youth corrections agencies to provide free ID cards to inmates; SB41 (Roegner), which includes the Pay Stub Protection Act as well as various provisions on property, securities, utilities and other topics; SB44 (Brenner), regarding electronic licensing and other topics; HB512 (Pavliga), regarding licensure for emergency placement facilities for children; and HCR16 (Somani-Ray), recognizing the importance of perinatal mental health. The House concurred with Senate amendments to HB308 (Stein-Brennan), designating nuclear energy as green energy and lengthening the standard leases for oil and gas drilling on state lands; HB236 (Lear-M. Miller), the Never Alone Act; HB298 (Robb Blasdel-Swearingen), regarding sex offender registration; HB303 (Hall-Santucci), regarding MES training and medication aides; and HB503 (Peterson-Jones), regarding feral pigs and boar; but declined to concur with Senate amendments to HB73 (Gross-Loychik), regarding off-label drug use; and HB315 (Hall-Seitz), the township omnibus.
Wednesday’s Senate session included passage of two antisemitism measures: SB297 (Johnson), which expands the offense of ethnic intimidation and also directs state institutions to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating discrimination; and HB315 (Hall-Seitz), a township omnibus that also would adopt the IHRA definition. The chamber also passed HB73 (Gross-Loychik), regarding off-label drug use; HB236 (Lear-M. Miller), aka the Never Alone Act; HB308 (Stein-Brennan), designation nuclear power as green energy; HB74 (Hall-Lightbody), a technology and cybersecurity bill that picked up numerous elections provisions; HB28 (Humphrey), designating March as “Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Month”; HB239 (Fowler-Klopfenstein), to implement recommendations of the Sunset Review Committee and General Assembly occupational licensure review; HB289 (Robb Blasdel-Swearingen), regarding sex offender registration; HB303 (Hall-Santucci), regarding EMS training and medication aides; HB497 (Stewart-Klopfenstein), the county government omnibus; HB503 (Peterson-Jones), regarding boar and feral swine; and SB235 (Kunze-Sykes), designating the first full week in May as “Public Service Recognition Week.” The chamber also concurred with House amendments to SB6 (Schuring), barring environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing by state pensions universities and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; SB100 (Manning-Antonio), regarding use of tracking devices on other people’s property without their consent; SB109 (Hackett), regarding sex offenses by medical professionals; SB196 (Roegner), regarding advanced practice nurses; and SB257 (Chavez-Johnson), regarding military servicemembers’ eligibility for home savings accounts. The chamber wrapped up business with a sendoff for Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), who leaves the chamber at year’s end but not the General Assembly, as he was elected to the House and picked by Republicans as the incoming House speaker.
The House Homeland Security Committee Wednesday continued the streak of House committees loading up Senate bills with other legislation, hanging ornaments on SB163 (Kunze), now a license plate omnibus bill, SB290 (Antonio), which was loaded with road designations, and SB37 (Blessing-Ingram), now a public safety and transportation omnibus. All three were reported out of committee with SB163 and SB37 passing in the full chamber later in the day.
A crowded room of Arab and Jewish Americans and other critics of Israeli policy Wednesday followed equally spirited testimony in support of antisemitism bill SB297 (Johnson) with a passionate defense of First Amendment rights to assembly and free speech in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Family, friends and former Ohio Senate presidents gathered Tuesday night in the Statehouse Atrium for the dedication of outgoing Senate President Matt Huffman's (R-Lima) official portrait. Among the former presidents in attendance were Auditor of State Keith Faber and Larry Obhof. The incoming president, Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), was also there.
In other legislative action, House Criminal Justice Committee reported out HB351 (Young), prohibiting abuse of a companion animal corpse and HB480 (Young-Demetriou), regarding expedited removal of unoccupied occupants to residential property; House Government Oversight Committee reported out HB499 (Isaacsohn-Mathews), regarding housing grants and HCR18 (Richardson), urging Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act; House Health Provider Services committee reported out HB319 (Gross-Wiggam), regarding the right to refuse certain medical interventions for reasons for conscience; House Insurance Committee reported out HB474 (King-Mathews), regarding health care sharing ministries; Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reported out SB296 (Wilkin), to create the Ohio River Commission, HB364 (Dobos-Klopfenstein), regarding noncommercial seed sharing and HCR14 (Patton), urging Congress to pass the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act; House Finance Committee reported out HB279 (Willis), regarding school busy safety; House Homeland Security Committee reported out HB333 (Sweeney-Miller), regarding law enforcement quotas, HB237 (K. Miller-Plummer), regarding laws on different vehicle types and SB290 (Antonio), a highway naming and license plate bill; House Public Health Policy Committee reported out SB234 (Gavarone), a mental health omnibus with awareness designations; Senate Government Oversight Committee reported out HB237 (Hoops-Claggett), regarding virtual meetings for public bodies; Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee reported out SB281 (Craig-Johnson), regarding creation of posters on veterans benefits and services, HCR8 (Patton-Lampton), urging the federal government to select Ohio for the U.S. Space Command headquarters and HCR11 (Klopfenstein-King), condemning China for its role in the drug trade; Senate Ways and Means Committee reported out HB66, regarding bad debts for tobacco products and HB496 (Hoops), regarding property taxes and county auditors.
GOVERNOR
The governor signed the following bills:
HB432 (Jones), an update to licensure for career-technical educators that the Senate amended to clean up student privacy laws enacted in SB29 (S. Huffman).
Judicial appointments made during the week include the following:
Marianne Hemmeter to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Hemmeter, of Delaware, will assume office on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, and will be taking the seat held by Judge David Gormley, who will assume a position on the Fifth District Court of Appeals. With 27 years of legal experience, Hemmeter has served as a judge on the Delaware Municipal Court since 2015. Previously, she held the role of deputy director of the Economic Crimes Unit at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and was appointed interim Delaware County prosecuting attorney in 2003.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said Wednesday that while numbers for COVID-19, influenza and RSV are "generally low," they have begun to increase, and that demonstrates the importance of preventive steps to keep from getting sick.
JUDICIAL
The Ohio Supreme Court is accepting a second round of public comment on revised Rules of Practice and Procedure following the first comment period on initial changes proposed in September. Amendments primarily address "Marsy's Law" in Article I, Section 10a of the Ohio Constitution and R.C. 2930 and affect the Ohio Rules of Evidence, Appellate Procedure, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, and Juvenile Procedure, with "nonmaterial" changes to Ohio Traffic Rules.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Ohio Mayors Alliance (OMA) Thursday held its annual meeting and outlined its policy and legislative priorities for next year, including consistent state funding to support local public safety costs. The meeting of the group, which is a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio's 31 largest cities, was held at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES (NCSL)
Despite over 1,000 new legislators set to enter state legislatures nationwide in the new year, only a few state chambers actually switched partisan control following November's elections. Among such stasis, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) CEO Tim Storey doesn't expect to see much of a surge of policy changes from either a conservative or progressive angle within state legislatures in their next sessions. Looking forward to the policy trends in state legislatures nationwide in 2025, Storey focused on state budgets as the top issue during a conference call with reporters on Monday. Storey noted that state budgets had been receiving a "nice run" of money following COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Approximately 884.5 acres of Salt Fork State Park will be bid out for oil and gas development, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) decided Monday. Commissioners unanimously approved the two nominations involving the park, which includes 13 parcels of land in Guernsey County. The nominations will go out to bid in January 2025.
Court cases involving the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently saw fines and other punishment levied for the illegal taking of both flora and fauna within the state. In Pickaway County Common Pleas Court, three defendants were found liable for trespassing, conversion and unjust enrichment as a result of taking 315 trees from state-owned land. In Clinton County Common Pleas Court, Christopher J. Alexander of Wilmington was sentenced for unlawfully shooting an 18-point trophy white-tailed deer in November 2023. Alexander pleaded guilty in October, following guilty pleas from three other individuals in the case.
Ohio's seven-day deer gun hunting season ending on Sunday, Dec. 8 saw hunters within Ohio and beyond check more deer than hunters in the state have since 2011, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
PENSIONS
Members of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) voted 5-4 on Thursday to disapprove of pension bill HB296 (Abrams-Hall), as recommended by ORSC staff. The five members who voted in favor of the staff recommendation were ORSC Chair Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario), Rep. Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati) and the three governor appointees -- Lora Miller, Gary Scherer and Anthony Podojil. ORSC Vice Chair Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), Sen. Louis Blessing (R-Cincinnati), Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) voted to reject the staff recommendation.
PEOPLE
Lesic & Camper Communications announced this week that Sam Rossi has joined their staff. Rossi’s experience includes time as a legislative aide and deputy press secretary in the Ohio Senate, communications director for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, director of government affairs for the Ohio Association of Health Plans, press secretary for former Secretary of State Jon Husted and communications director for Treasurer Robert Sprague.
David Bowling is the new executive director for the Ohio Cannabis Coalition (OHCANN), the organization announced Monday. "With a wealth of experience and extensive knowledge in the cannabis industry, David brings a unique perspective that will greatly benefit the association," OHCANN said in a news release. Bowling joins OHCANN after serving as the deputy superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Cannabis Control, where he played a key role in establishing the adult-use marijuana program. He has also served as deputy chief legal counsel for DOC.
Former Ohio State University (OSU) Athletics Director Gene Smith has been named the 2025 recipient of the "Gerald R. Ford Award," selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Honors Committee. The award is presented to an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of a career, OSU said in a news release.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon announced 229 fire departments in 71 counties will share $4 million in grants through the 2025 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications System) Grant. Fire departments will receive the funds in early 2025. According to the fire marshal's office, the MARCS radio system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. The system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other, as well as with other agencies that may be responding to an incident. Costs to acquire and operate the advanced MARCS radio system technology can be significant, which highlights the importance of these grants in helping to ensure fire departments can access these valuable tools.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Ohio Inspector General (IG) Randall Meyer referred an investigative report to the Franklin County prosecuting attorney and the Ohio auditor of state regarding a contract employee with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) who is alleged to have improperly released $1.16 million in Public Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a recent release. Investigators determined that Shontiera Barnes, a former Randstad employee, "took actions outside the scope of her training and authority in 42 PUA claims." Barnes is alleged to have voided holds on 34 unemployment assistance claims without the required documentation being provided. Ultimately, about $1.16 million in benefits were paid to ineligible applicants -- many of whom were determined by investigators to be Barnes' family members or acquaintances.
TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE
The Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) and Office of CyberOhio held a cybersecurity summit at the Athletic Club of Columbus Thursday, with remarks from Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), chair of the House Technology and Innovation Committee. Her session included questions by Bobby Kovey, president of OITA. Miller talked about how she became chair in May and began asking Lt. Gov. Jon Husted for his advice about filling that role. He suggested she meet with experts, so Miller has been having them testify in the committee. That will help inform items she seeks to have in the next operating budget, she added.
The House Aviation and Aerospace Committee heard presentations Tuesday from the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) and British company Blue Abyss in its final meeting of the 135th General Assembly, with Chair Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) saying the goal of that hearing was to learn about potential items in next year's operating budget.
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE
Gov. Mike DeWine was among the speakers at an official groundbreaking Monday for a new terminal at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport, which he said represents "our investment in the future, and what we're saying is as Ohioans we think we have a great future ahead." "An airport like this is so vitally important," he continued, before discussing how airports and flights they offer help attract businesses to establish operations in Ohio.
[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2024 Hannah News Service, Inc.]