Spending bill passes, marijuana stalls in marathon Statehouse session

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers held a marathon session on Wednesday, where they sent a handful of bills to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk and advanced several more.

$4.2 BILLION SPENDING BILL

A $4.2 billion bill that will allocate money across the state for a number of projects. That includes a $700 million one-time fund of excess tax dollars.

“We set aside a pot that would say, ‘We’re going to return money to the taxpayers through unique community projects,’” Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) said. “That those projects would either have an economic impact or maybe just improve the quality of life for everyday Ohioans.”

“Hard-working Ohioans, business owners, union members, teachers, people on the healthcare frontlines, they could be seeing $700 million of their money being returned to them, but because we’re choosing to give this to special projects, they will not,” Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), who voted against the bill, said.

The bill passed both the House and Senate on Wednesday and now heads to DeWine’s desk for a signature. The bill has an emergency clause attached, so will go into effect as soon as DeWine signs it.

CAMPUS Act

Ohio lawmakers are responding to the protests seen on college campuses here in Ohio and across the country in a bill they passed on Wednesday.

The CAMPUS Act, originally House Bill 606, was partly amended into Senate Bill 94 on Wednesday. Both chambers passed SB94, and it now heads to the governor’s desk.

“We want to make sure we are creating an Ohio that every student, regardless of who they are, who they pray to, what ethnicity or religious background they have, have the best opportunity to learn and live and be on campuses,” Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) said.

“This bill is urgently needed for our current campus climate because ‘never again’ means ‘right now,’” Rep. Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) said.

The bill requires each state institution of higher education publicize any time, place, or manner restrictions it places on its “students’ expressive activities.”

RELIGIOUS RELEASE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS 

Originally in House Bill 445, state lawmakers passed a religious “released program” requirement in House Bill 214, sending it to the governor’s desk.

“Released time,” as currently defined in state law, means “a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off school district property.”

Although already in state law, it only permits schools to adopt a policy; it does not require it. If signed, the law would change “may” to “shall adopt a policy” in the Ohio Revised Code.

EXPUNGEMENT FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

This bill would expunge certain criminal records for victims of human trafficking. The bill passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the governor’s desk.

“This streamlines the process with a very high standard of clear and convincing evidence that a person was a victim of human trafficking and as a result they committed a crime,” Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) said.

CHILDHOOD SAFETY ACT

Senate Bill 112 also heads to the governor’s desk. The bill requires certain requirements for doors in schools to help ensure no intruders can enter.

“If the doors and airports, government offices, and other locations are secured, it only makes sense that those protecting our children, as well, are secured,” Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) said.

“We are not being serious enough as a state if we honestly think the solution to gun violence in and out of schools will be solved by a bill about protective school door assemblies,” Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) said.

WHAT DIDN’T HAPPEN

Senate Bill 83, or the Higher Education Enhancement Act, did not receive a House floor vote. The bill has been stalled for months, and its sponsor said negotiations on the legislation will also likely stop for now.

Similarly stalled for months was House Bill 183, which would prohibit schools from allowing trans students to use a bathroom that doesn't correspond with the gender assigned to them at birth.

The bill has been stalled in the Ohio House for two months and after an emotional debate, was amended to Senate Bill 104. However, the Senate had adjourned for summer break by that point, meaning the soonest the upper chamber could address the bill is when session returns in November.

Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) was going to bring an adult-use marijuana-related amendment to the House floor. The motion to suspend the House rules to do so failed, so no marijuana legislation was discussed on Wednesday.

Several other bills advanced to the governor’s desk or made their way to the next chamber. Lawmakers will now be on break, likely until November, so any further action on sitting legislation will wait until then.