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 135th Ohio General Assembly, which started January 2023 and will end in December 2024.
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.
This page was last updated on November 29, 2023.
Good Legislation
Legislation that PPAO supports and is working to pass.
Senate Joint Resolution 3: Election Day Voter Registration
On May 15, 2023, Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 3. SJR 3 would allow someone to register to vote on Election Day and then vote in that election.
SJR 3 was referred to the Senate General Government Committee on May 17, 2023. The resolution has yet to receive any hearings.
Senate Bill 132: The Ohio Fairness Act
Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio introduced The Ohio Fairness Act on June 29, 2023.
The Ohio Fairness Act would protect LGBTQ+ Ohioans from discrimination in employment, housing, and accommodations. Ohio's laws do not currently protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Dozens of 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 your daily commute.
So far in the 135th General Assembly, 8 bills have been introduced that directly target the LGBTQ+ community. The attacks against the LGBTQ+ community are not isolated incidents, but rather are part of a growing campaign from elected officials to dehumanize LGBTQ+ people.
The bill was referred to the Government Oversight Committee in the Ohio Senate on September 13, 2023.
House Bill 170: Enact Extreme Risk Protection Order Act
Representatives Michele Grim (D) and Cecil Thomas (D) introduced House Bill 170 on May 9, 2023.
HB 170 would allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person’s access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others. Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are a powerful tool to stop suicides, domestic violence homicides, and mass shootings.
The bill was referred to the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee on May 23, 2023. HB 170 received sponsor testimony on June 6, 2023.
House Bill 171: Social Studies Curriculum
Representative Mary Lightbody (D) introduced House Bill 171 on May 10, 2023. Our partners at Educating for Ohio's Future say HB 171 is a bill that “would update the K-12 social studies model curriculum in Ohio to reflect all Ohioans’ backgrounds and histories in order to help our kids understand the world, build empathy, and create better futures.”
Ohio is stronger when all of our kids are seen and heard in the classroom.
Thank you to our partners at OPAWL—Building AAPI Feminist Leadership, Honesty for Ohio Education, CAIR-Ohio, Young Latino Network, and The Freedom BLOC for founding and leading Educating for Ohio's Future.
On May 23, 2023, House Bill 171 was referred to the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee. The bill received sponsor testimony on June 20, 2023.
House Bill 174: Healthcare Coverage
On May 16, 2023, Representatives Michael Skindell (D) and Michele Grim (D) introduced House Bill 174. Through HB 174, the Ohio Health Care Plan would provide universal and affordable health care coverage for Ohio residents, consisting of a comprehensive benefit package that includes benefits for prescription drugs.
The bill was referred to the Ohio House Insurance Committee on May 23, 2023. It has not yet received any hearings.
Bad Legislation
Legislation that PPAO does not support and is fighting to stop.
Senate Joint Resolution 2: Attacking Ballot Initiatives
On March 22, 2023, SJR 2 was introduced by Sen. Rob McColley (R) and Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R).
This resolution would have required all public-led ballot initiatives to receive a supermajority (60%) of votes instead of a simple majority at 50%+1 to pass.
During debate on the Ohio House floor, an amendment was adopted to allow for SJR 2 to be voted on by Ohioans in a special election on August 8, 2023.
Ohio voters defeated Issue 1 on August 8th, 2023.
Senate Bill 83: Higher Education Destruction Act
Senate Bill 83 was introduced on March 14, 2023 by Senator Jerry C. Cirino (R).
From our partners at Honesty for Ohio Education: “Senate Bill 83, (and its companion House Bill 151) the 'Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act' is a higher education bill directly impacting academic freedoms and instruction on “controversial beliefs and policies.” The bill bans mandatory DEI training and programs, hiring, and education around 'controversial beliefs and policies,' affinity groups, affirmative action practices, academic partnerships with China, and collective bargaining. Violations impact performance evaluations, tenure, and state funding."
The bill passed out of the Ohio Senate on May 17, 2023. The bill was referred to the Ohio House Higher Education Committee on May 23, 2023. It received proponent and opponent testimony in the Ohio House on November 29, 2023.
House Bill 6: Trans Athlete Ban
On February 15, 2023, Rep. Jena Powell (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that would ban transgender girls and women from playing women's high-school or college sports. This bill's ultimate goal is to invalidate, ignore, and dehumanize the reality of transgender and gender non-binary identities.
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.
During a hearing from HB 68 on June 14, 2023, the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee combined HB 6 with HB 68, which bans gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth, to create one anti-trans omnibus bill.
This bill passed out of the Higher Education Committee on May 10, 2023. HB 6 was combined with HB 68 on June 14, 2023. HB 6 (inside HB 68) passed out of the Ohio House on June 21, 2023. The bill was referred to the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee on September 13, 2023. The bill received proponent testimony on November 28, 2023.
House Bill 8: Unsafe Students Act
On February 15, 2023, Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R) and Rep. Sara Carruthers (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that endangers Ohio’s LGBTQ+ youth, essentially requiring Ohio’s educators to out students to their parents.
House Bill 8 would also require schools to notify parents before any discussion of "sexual orientation or gender ideology." Parents would then be allowed to opt their child out of these valuable discussions.
This bill passed out of the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on June 13, 2023. House Bill 8 passed out of the Ohio House on June 21, 2023. The bill will now head to the Ohio Senate for further deliberation.
House Bill 15: Attack on Patients Seeking Abortion Care
On February 15, 2023, Rep. Jennifer Gross (R) and Rep. Beth Lear (R) introduced HB 15, which would require a pregnant person seeking an abortion to view and hear an ultrasound and have it described to them.
This bill would also force trusted abortion providers to share medical misinformation around abortion, including unproven connections between abortion and breast cancer, as well as the unproven connection between abortion and "psychological or emotional harm."
The bill was referred to the Public Health Policy Committee on February 16th, 2023 and has not yet received any hearings.
House Bill 68: Anti-Trans Omnibus Bill
On February 22, 2023, Rep. Gary Click (R) introduced a bill in the Ohio House that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth ─ regardless of parental consent, wishes of the patient, diagnosis, or previous care-plan.
During a hearing from HB 68 on June 14, 2023, the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee combined HB 6, which bars young Ohioans from participating in high-school or college sports aligned with their gender identity, with HB 68, which bans gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary youth, to create one anti-trans omnibus bill.
This bill was assigned to the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee on February 28, 2023. It passed out of the Ohio House on June 21, 2023. The bill was referred to the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee on September 13, 2023. The bill received proponent testimony on November 28, 2023.
House Joint Resolution 1: Attacking Ballot Initiatives
On February 15, 2023, HJR 1 was introduced by Rep. Brian Stewart (R).
This resolution would require all public-led ballot initiatives to receive a supermajority (60%) of votes instead of a simple majority at 50%+1 to pass. HJR 1 would eliminate the "cure period" for petitioners to have two rounds of gathering signatures as well as require petition signatures from all 88 Ohio counties rather than the current 44 county requirement.
This resolution was previously introduced in 2022 as HJR 6, but did not pass before the conclusion of the 134th General Assembly.
HJR 1 was referred to the Constitutional Resolutions Committee on February 16th, 2023.
Since SJR 2 (identical to HJR 1) passed out of the Ohio House, this bill is effectively dead.
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.