Legislation.
Keep up to date on the latest reproductive health care issues in Ohio, and find out how you can fight back.
Current Legislation:
As legislation is introduced, you will be able to read below for the latest information on legislation in the 134th Ohio General Assembly, which stared January 2021 and will end in December 2022.
Gray background designates a bill PPAO opposes.
Pink background designates a bill PPAO supports.
As legislation is introduced, we will provide ways for you to take action. You can subscribe to our emails to stay updated on the status of reproductive rights across Ohio.
Senate Bill 16: Anti-Protest Bill
Introduced on January 26, 2021, SB 16 is an anti-democracy bill targeted to punish protesters with new and intensified charges. Senate Bill 16 drastically increases penalties for protest while also broadening what is considered punishable.
Passing this bill would allow police to not only charge more Ohioans for exercising their freedom of speech, but this law would drastically increase the consequences of the charge the peaceful protester would face. Additionally, this bill targets organizations who assist in planning or promoting a protest.
It was passed out of the Ohio Senate on June 2, 2021.
Senate Bill 119: Ohio Fairness Act
Introduced in March 2021, the Ohio Fairness Act would protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans from discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations. Ohio’s state laws do not currently protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
33 localities in Ohio have taken the initiative to pass local versions of these protections.However, if you live in one locality and work in another, you can lose your rights on yourdaily commute.
It was referred to the Senate Government Oversight and Reform on March 10, 2021.
Senate Bill 123: Abortion Trigger Ban
On March 9th, 2021, Sen. Kristina Roegner (R) and Sen. Sandra O'Brien (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio Senate to ban all abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
‘Trigger’ bans like these are not about protecting people – they are about taking away access and spreading misinformation. We cannot and will not accept a world where safe, legal reproductive health care depends on where you live.
This bill was referred to the Ohio Senate Health Committee on March 10, 2021.
Senate Bill 132: Trans Athlete Ban
In March 2021, Sen. Kristina Roegner (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio Senate that would ban transgender young people from participating in school sports (k-12). This bill's ultimate goal is to invalidate, ignore, and dehumanize the reality of transgender and gender non-binary identities.
No matter where we are from, what we look like, or who we voted for, Ohioans want our kids to grow up instilled with the important life lessons sports teaches—leadership, confidence, self-respect, and what it means to be part of a team.
Trans kids who grow up in Ohio deserve the same experiences, opportunities, and respect that other kids have. Every Ohioan benefits when we all have the ability and resources to thrive.
Senate Bill 157: Medical Interference Act
In April 2021, Senators Terry Johnson (R) and Stephen A. Huffman (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio Senate that would create another opportunity to push a false and inflammatory narrative around reproductive health care in the state. Anti-abortion politicians use "born alive" bills as messaging opportunities to push their inflammatory rhetoric. They use these types of symbolic policies to create a platform to talk about abortion late in pregnancy and "infanticide."
Bills like these perpetuate myths about abortion, the people who get abortions, and the doctors who care for them. The people behind this bill have one goal in mind — to ban abortion.
This legislation received its first hearing in the Ohio Senate Government Oversign and Reform Committee on June 2, 2021.
House Bill 61: Trans Athlete Ban
In February 2021, Rep. Jena Powell (R) and Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that would ban transgender young people from participating in school sports (k-12). This bill's ultimate goal is to invalidate, ignore, and dehumanize the reality of transgender and gender non-binary identities.
The same Ohio Republicans who continue to fail to give Ohioans pandemic relief are instead focusing on banning transgender kids from school sports. Trans kids who grow up in Ohio deserve the same experiences, opportunities, and respect that other kids have. Every Ohioan benefits when we all have the ability and resources to thrive.
This bill received its first hearing in the Ohio House Primary & Secondary Education Committee on April 28, 2021.
House Bill 142: Medicaid Doula Reimbursements
In February 2021, Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D) and Rep. Thomas Brinkman Jr. (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that would allow Medicaid to provide reimbursement for doula services.
Researchers and policymakers agree that one solution to combat this health crisis would be to ensure that every pregnant person has access to a doula, no matter their income. Doulas provide needed health education, advocacy, and physical and emotional support for pregnant people before, during, and after childbirth.
This bill received its first hearing in the Ohio House Families, Aging & Human Services Committee on May 27, 2021.
House Bill 208: Ohio Fairness Act
Introduced in March 2021, the Ohio Fairness Act would protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans from discrimination in employment, housing and accommodations. Ohio’s state laws do not currently protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
33 localities in Ohio have taken the initiative to pass local versions of these protections.However, if you live in one locality and work in another, you can lose your rights on yourdaily commute.
It was introduced in the Ohio House with bipartisan support by Rep. Brett Hillyer (R) and Rep. Michael Skindell (D).
House Bill 294: Anti-Voting
In May 2021, Rep. Bill Seitz (R) and Rep. Sharon A. Ray (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that would make it harder for Ohioans to vote.
If passed, it would cut down early voting times, severely limit ballot drop boxes, stiffen voter ID requirements, limit access to mail-in ballots, and force most Ohioans to pay for postage on mail-in ballots and ballot request forms. While this legislation would improve voter registration and allow voters to request their mail-in ballot online, it is one step forward but three steps back. We cannot support any legislation that will make it more difficult to vote.
This legislation had its first hearing in the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee on May 20, 2021. You can read the recap here.
What we're fighting for:
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio is a leading force in the fight to defend reproductive rights for all. Every single day, we work with our legislative allies, partner groups, and community members to make sure that abortion remains a safe, legal, and accessible service. We will continue to fight for that - no matter what.