Ohio Statehouse
Legislation Tracker
PRIORITY LEGISLATION
PRIORITY LEGISLATION
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HB 155(Oppose) — Ends "diversity, equity, and inclusion" programs in schools (Companion bill to SB 113)
HB 326(Oppose) — The “Classic Learning Test”
HB 485(Oppose) — The “Baby Olivia Act” would require schools to show a misleading, anti-abortion “fetal development” video every year
HB 486 (Oppose) — “Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act” Urges public schools/universities to promote “the influence of Judeo-Christian values on history and culture”
HB 671(Oppose) — Withhold funding from school districts that join the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit
HB 153 (Oppose) — Make all local school board races partisan (Companion bill to SB 107)
HB 415 (Support) — The CROWN Act would ban discrimination against natural and protective hair styles in schools -
SB 443(Support) — Charter school reporting requirements + ensuring public and private school students are assessed similarly
SB 276(Oppose) — Require schools to teach students to graduate high school, get a job, get married, have kids, in that order (“Success Sequence”)
SB 34(Oppose) — Ten Commandments in public schools
SB 107(Oppose) — Make all local school board races partisan (Companion to HB 153)
SB 113(Oppose) — End "diversity, equity, and inclusion" programs in schools (Companion bill to HB 155)
SB 127(Oppose) — Closure requirements or other actions for “poor-performing” public schools
SB 172 (Oppose) — Require state and local public offices/officials to allow the arrest or detention of anyone who is — or is suspected of being — unlawfully present in the U.S. -
★ Veto SB 276—The “Success Sequence” curriculum
★ Help stop SB 113—K-12 DEI Program Bans
★ Advocate for HB 415—The CROWN Act
★ Help Stop HB 485—Anti-Abortion Propaganda in Classrooms
★ Help stop HB 42—Mandatory Immigration Status Reporting for Schools
★ Check out Honesty's Hot Sheet with priority legislation
★ Join our email list to stay up-to-date on Ohio's education bills
House and Senate Education Bills
House Bills
Senate Bills
Ohio Statehouse
Committees & Legislators
House Committees
Senate Committees
Take Action Tookit
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Take Action Tookit *
There are several different ways to take action and advocate for or against bills in the Ohio Statehouse. The most important place to begin is to educate yourself about the legislation, and why honest education must be a priority in Ohio.
From there, you can:
Submit proponent or opponent testimony
Submit a letter to the editor or an op-ed to your local paper
Contact Ohio legislators letting them know why the issue matters to you and your family
Spread the word to family, friends, schools, colleagues, and communities
We've provided helpful resources to get you started.
STAY INFORMED!
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Testimony Toolkit
Learn everything you need to know about submitting testimony through these testimony toolkits
Tips
Learn about the bill before preparing your testimony. You can find information and links to all education-related legislation on this webpage.
Prepare your testimony early so it's ready to submit when the hearing is announced. Many committees only provide 1-2 days advance notice of a hearing.
You can testify in person or submit written-only testimony if you are unable to attend the scheduled committee hearing.
Need a testimony template? Find it here.
Submitting Testimony:
Do NOT submit your testimony until the appropriate hearing is formally announced. Many committees will reject testimony if submitted too early.
Testimony is due at least 24 hours ahead of the scheduled committee hearing
For House Committees: Email this completed witness slip and a PDF of your testimony to the committee chair. You can find their emails in the spreadsheet above. In your email, indicate the bill number and type of testimony you are submitting (proponent/opponent and in-person/written) and ask for a confirmation of receipt.
For Senate Committees: Upload your testimony by selecting the meeting date and locating the “upload testimony” button on the top of the page. Here is a link to the Senate Education page.
Need help? Contact us at info@honestyforohioeducation.org
Presenting In-Person Testimony:
Witnesses have five minutes to present testimony
Be prepared to answer committee questions (it is OK to respond, "I do not have that information, but I'm happy to forward those answers in the coming days.")
Arrive at least 30 minutes early for parking and seating
All committee hearings and Statehouse sessions are televised LIVE and recorded on The Ohio Channel
Request Committee Hearing Notices
It's important to track and monitor bills in their committees and Statehouse sessions. You're encouraged to join the bill's committee mailing list to receive hearing notices and agenda updates.
Use this guide to sign up for committee notice lists.
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Newspapers publish Letters to the Editor (LTEs) and Opposite the Editorial (Op-Ed) pieces as a space for public debate on opinions or to discuss issues missed by the regular news. They should be written with a clear opinion, and even better if its problem-solution oriented. Opinion sections are among the most read sections in the newspaper, and legislators often read the Opinion section to get a sense of what their constituents are passionate about.
Before You Begin Writing
Pay attention to submission requirements (word length & how to submit). Submission requirements are typically found in the Opinion section of the newspaper.
Letters to the Editor (LTEs) are generally 200 words
Opinion Pieces (Op-Eds) are range from (600-700 words)
Below is submission information and links for major newspapers around the state
The Akron Beacon Journal (email vop@thebeaconjournal.com)
Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer, Sun News Editor)
Read other LTEs & Op-Eds in that newspaper to get a sense of the criteria they use.
If you have a relationship, call or discuss the opinion piece with the editor before submitting. For example, sometimes editors feel a story or particular angle has been exhausted and may indicate the need for a fresh angle. Relationships are easier to establish with local or community papers.
Writing an LTE or Op-ed
The order of your points and content is important: Keep your priority content at the top, editors have the discretion to shorten your submission and normally do so from the bottom
Be concise and efficient with your words: Make sure every sentence has its own purpose.
Stay on one message and don’t use jargon: Make sure you know your message, what you want to say, and use clear and simple language—short words and sentences go a long way!
If you have a strong personal story, include it (a compelling human interest story goes a long way to hook editors and readers).
Reference a former article that the newspaper wrote, or an event that happened in the community, and connect it to your content.
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
Be sure to include your name, city, and contact information It is best to submit your piece via email, either in the body of your email or as an attachment.
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Contact your lawmakers and statehouse leaders, like committee chairs and vice chairs, to advocate for or against legislation. All contact information can be found in the Statehouse Committees and Legislators section above.