Legislative update

An overview of bills introduced in the 132nd General Assembly

In an effort to keep you more connected to your government and whats happening at your Statehouse, here is
a list of current bills in the House that I thought you might find interesting.

As always, dont hesitate to contact me with ideas for legislation or ways of bettering our community. I value
and respect your input.

Reps. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) & Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) HB 186 Grant tax
deduction for certain higher education expenses

Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) & Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) HB 243 To exempt firewood and other
heating fuels from state sales tax.

Reps. John Boccieri (D-Poland) & Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) HB 245 List and
disqualify all corporations who move call centers out of US.

Reps. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) & Jim Butler (R) HB 260 Automatically grants limited driving privileges
when conviction is non-violent and unrelated to motor vehicle use.

Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) HB 14 To create Automatic Voter Registration, which will require that
eligible Ohioans in state and school databases be automatically registered to vote and have their registrations
automatically updated unless they choose to opt out.

Engaging your legislature and the committee process

The formal votes during House sessions may give the
impression that every vote has been decided in
advance. This is actually the case because in-depth
examination of legislation takes place
in committee hearings.
Following a bill's introduction, it is
assigned to one of the Houses 17
standing committees. During
committee meetings, bills are debated
and amended and members of the
general public are given the
opportunity to contribute testimonies.
Witnesses are not under oath, as in a courtroom, but
they must register with the committee chairperson at
the beginning of the hearing.
The House Speaker determines the membership and
number of House standing committees. Appointments
for committee chairs, vice chairs, and ranking
minority members are made at the
beginning of each new General
Assembly, but changes and
substitutions can always be made at
the House Speakers discretion.
You should know that, as an Ohioan,
you have the right and
opportunity to present testimony
on a bill you favor or oppose. If
you should decide to visit the Statehouse to offer
your views on a particular bill, be sure to contact me
so that I can assist in making your time here as
enjoyable and productive as possible.

State representatives want to hear the views of

For more information about legislation from the past
Ohioans as they consider legislation. Weekly
or bills currently pending before the House, visit the
committee schedules are posted on the web at http://
Ohio General Assembly's website at
www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/standing-committees
www.legislature.state.oh.us/ or call the legislative toll
and in the House Clerk's office.
-free hotline at 1-800-282-0253.