OHIO STATEHOUSE
House Bills 322, 327​​​, 616

What are House Bills 322, 327, and 616?
​
Ohio House Bills 322, 327, and 616 are three pending bills seeking to censor honest education and discussion about history, race, racism, sexuality, and gender identity across Ohio K-12 schools, state higher education, state agencies, and political subdivisions. 
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These bills were imported into Ohio to advance a national political agenda designed to: 
  • Whitewash history, sanitize hate, and hide hard truths about our nation
  • Dismiss the enduring legacies and realities of racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia
  • Silence the many diverse perspectives, identities, and experiences that shape the American Experience
  • Create division and distrust amongst Ohioans by using misinformation to fuel fear and the "othering" of marginalized Ohioans
  • Cause a chilling effect on honest education and discussions in the classroom and workplace​
  • Distract from REAL education issues, like unconstitutional school funding, under-resourced schools, and the growing teacher shortage
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What do HB 322, HB 327, and HB 616 do?
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If passed, the three bills would: ​

Censor honest education and discussion about race, sex, sexuality, gender identity in K-12, higher education, political subdivisions, and state agencies

Prohibit the teaching, discussion, training,  and promotion of "divisive or inherently racist concepts":
  • Critical Race Theory
  • The 1619 Project
  • DEI Learning Outcomes​
  • Intersectional Theory
  • Inherited Racial Guilt
  • Concepts defined by the State Board of Education 
  • Prohibit the affirmation of systemic racism

​Prohibit education and discussion about sexuality and gender identity in grades K-3

Restrict education and discussion about sexuality and gender identity in grades 4-12

Reject the use of appropriate gender pronouns

Restrict education about current events  

​Restrict course credit and grades for action civics

Prohibit and restrict Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training and professional development

Prohibit state higher education from requiring "divisive concept" courses as a requirement for a major or program

Impose extreme penalties for violations:
  • Admonish, suspend, and revoke licensure
  • Withhold state funding
  • Allow action for injunctive relief
  • Influence decisions for tenure

​Similar Bills and Actions Across US
More than 40 states across the country have introduced or passed similar bills and actions in their statehouses, state boards of education, and local districts. These copycat bills use strikingly similar language and penalties, much of which originated from Donald Trump's Executive Order 13950 issued in September 2020. 

Most bills and actions were passed or adopted without the support, endorsement, or consultation of trained education professionals, leading education organizations, and mental and behavioral health experts. ​

SUMMARY OF THE BILLS​

​HB 322 ​
IMPACTS
K-12 Schools
State Agencies
PROHIBITS
  • Teaching, instruction, and discussion of controversial content related to race and sex
  • Any model curriculum or curricula standards that promote controversial content related to race and sex
  • Regular discussion or study of current events related to race and sex
  • Course credit for service learning, action civics, or advocacy
  • Affirmation of systemic racism and sexism US
  • Mandatory affirmation of LGBTQIA+ identities and pronouns​​

​HB 327 ​
IMPACTS
​K-12 Schools
(Districts, STEM, Community, Charter, Nonpublic)
State Higher Education
​ State Agencies
(all departments of the state)
State Retirement Systems
Political Subdivisions
(County, Township, City, Village)
PROHIBITS
  • Any teaching, instruction, or discussion that promotes "divisive concepts" 
  • Any model curriculum or curricula standards that promote  "divisive concepts"
  • Any training or professional development that promotes "divisive concepts"  
  • Any funding or purchases for material, training, or consultation that promotes "divisive concepts" 
  • Higher education institutions from requiring courses containing “divisive concepts” as a requirement of an undergraduate major or program
  • Requiring regular discussion or study of current events related to race and sex
  • Requiring course credit for service learning, action civics, or advocacy
  • Requiring affirmation of systemic racism and sexism US
  • Requiring affirmation of LGBTQIA+ identities, expressions, and pronouns​​​​​
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS
  • Suspension & revocation of licensure
  • Action for injunctive relief against district, administrator, school or school employee

​HB 616​
IMPACTS
​K-12 Schools
(Districts, STEM, Community
Nonpublic enrolling students in state scholarship program)
PROHIBITS
  • Promotion and Endorsement of Divisive and Inherently Racist Concepts
  • Critical Race Theory
  • Intersectional Theory
  • The 1619 Project
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Learning Outcomes
  • Inherited Racial Guilt
  • Concepts defined by the State Board of Education
  • Education & Material about Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity in K-3
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION
  • Admonishment, Suspension & Revocation of Licensure
  • Withholding of State Funding

TAKE ACTION
​Oppose HB 322, HB 327, HB 616