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No Legislative Sessions This Week – Senate HB 68 Veto Override Expected Next Week
The Ohio General Assembly is holding on to its plans for limited full sessions, at least in the early part of the year. There were selected committee hearings this week, but no voting sessions in either the House or Senate.
While the House will not meet next week, the Senate is planning a voting session. It is expected that the Senate will take a vote to override the Governor’s veto of HB 68. The Senate passed the bill originally by a vote of 24-8 and is widely expected to override the veto.
State Constitutional Amendments Expected in 2024
2023 was a busy year with three opportunities for voters to decide on proposed statewide issues – Constitutional Amendment Standards; Constitutional Abortion/Reproductive Rights; and Adult Marijuana Usage Initiated Statute.
With the outcomes in 2023 in mind, and 2024 being a Presidential election, as well as a US Senate race in Ohio, one should not be surprised to see several ballot issues this year.
This space will provide more details in the coming issues, but here is an outline of issues that are reported to be actively going through the many steps that are required to qualify for the Ohio ballot:
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Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting. A pair of former Ohio Supreme Court justices, Republican Maureen O’Connor and Democrat Yvette McGee Brown, are leading the effort that would replace a panel of elected officials who draw Ohio’s state legislative and congressional district maps with a newly created citizen’s commission.
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Voting Access. A coalition of organizations are seeking to establish a “Voters Bill of Rights” that would expand voting access with increased voter registration, additional early voting opportunities and allow swore affidavits to replace required photo ID’s.
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Minimum Wage Increase. A coalition, similar to the voting access effort, is proposing a stair-step increase in the state minimum wage to $15 per hour.
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Hunting and Fishing. A group of Republican state legislators has proposed enshrining the right to hunt and fish.
There has been some work on a “Medical Freedom” amendment regarding governmental public health actions and vaccinations, but it is apparently not actively being pursued currently.
Details on these issues will be featured in future updates. For more information about the CMA’s Public Policy and Advocacy work, contact CMA Executive Director Lisa Oyer or Advocacy Consultant Malcolm Porter.
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