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 136th Ohio General Assembly, which started January 2025 and will end in December 2026.
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 April 22, 2025.
Good Legislation
Legislation that PPAO supports and is working to pass.
Senate Bill 70: The Ohio Fairness Act
Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio introduced The Ohio Fairness Act on February 4, 2025.
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.
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.
Senate Bill 70 was referred to the Government Oversight Committee on February 12, 2025. The bill has yet to receive a hearing.
Senate Bill 73: The CROWN Act
On February 4, 2025, Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D) introduced Senate Bill 73.
The CROWN Act would make hair discrimination illegal and prohibit K-12 schools from penalizing kids for wearing their natural hairstyle. Natural hair is integral to identity, cultural expression, and individual expression.
Senate Bill 73 was referred to the Government Oversight and Reform Committee on February 12, 2025. The bill has yet to receive a hearing.
Senate Bill 78: Health Care Coverage
On February 4, 2025, Senators Paula Hicks-Hudson (D) and William DeMora (D) introduced Senate Bill 78.
Through SB 78, 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.
Senate Bill 78 was referred to the Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee on February 12, 2025. The bill has yet to receive a hearing.
House Bill 29: Free Menstrual Products in Correctional Facilities
On January 28, 2025, Representatives Latyna Humphrey (D) and Marilyn John (R) introduced House Bill 29.
Period poverty is real and the carceral system vastly impacts Black, Indigenous, and people of color in particular. It is dehumanizing and demoralizing for anyone to not have access to period products.
House Bill 29 was referred to the Government Oversight Committee on February 5, 2025. The committee heard proponent testimony on April 8, 2025.
Bad Legislation
Legislation that PPAO does not support and is fighting to stop.
Senate Bill 1: Higher Education Destruction Act
Senate Bill 1 was introduced on January 22, 2025 by Senator Jerry C. Cirino (R).
Senate Bill 1 increases censorship at colleges and universities and weakens our education standards, particularly for medical students learning sexual and reproductive health care.
Attacks on higher education are deeply unpopular. Almost 2,000 Ohioans submitted opposition testimonies.
Senate Bill 1 defunds diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives that make campuses safer for students, staff, and faculty. The bill is also anti-labor and bans faculty from striking.
Under Senate Bill 1, colleges and universities are prohibited from taking any position on politically "controversial" topics such as climate change, electoral politics, foreign policy, DEI programs, immigration policy, marriage, and abortion.
Senate Bill 1 passed out of the Senate on February 12, 2025 and out of the House on March 19, 2025. The Senate concurred with House amendments on March 26, 2025. Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law on March 28, 2025. The bill will go into effect in June 2025.
Senate Bill 34: Historical Educational Displays Act
Senate Bill 34 was introduced on January 29, 2025, by Senator Terry Johnson (R).
SB 34 would require public schools to select from a set list of "historical educational documents" and then display them.
These documents do not represent the full history of our country. As the only non-secular option, the inclusion of The Ten Commandments is inappropriate and preferential to Christian religious values, directly conflicting with freedom of religion as protected in the First Amendment. SB 34 imposes religious beliefs on Ohio's students.
Senate Bill 34 received a fifth hearing on April 8, 2025.
Senate Bill 113: DEI Ban for K-12 Schools
Senate Bill 113 was introduced on February 25, 2025, by Senator Andrew Brenner (R).
SB 113 would ban diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives in all K-12 public schools.
SB 113 fails to define “DEI” and could lead to harm for students and educators with disabilities, students with IEPS, as well as students and families with language barriers.
Every child deserves to feel welcome, seen, and safe at school. Banning DEI initiatives only harms Ohio students and fails to prepare them for the real world.
Senate Bill 113 received proponent testimony on March 25, 2025. A hearing for opponent testimony has yet to be scheduled.
House Bill 72: Ohio’s Alleged Anti-Death Penalty Bill
House Bill 72 was introduced on February 12, 2025, by Representatives Jean Schmidt (R) and Adam Mathews (R).
Ending the death penalty in Ohio is long overdue. However, conservative politicians and the Catholic Conference only targeted lethal injection drugs in House Bill 72—neglecting nitrogen gas—because their endgame is to restrict abortion.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio firmly supports the end to the death penalty, but we refuse to sacrifice our hard-won gains for reproductive freedom to do so.
House Bill 72 includes stigmatizing language about abortion because conservative politicians use bills like this as a Trojan horse to pass more abortion restrictions.
Ohioans deserve a clean bill that ends the death penalty. We cannot support a bill that targets abortion, falsely equates abortion with state-sponsored death, and pushes damaging abortion stigma.
House Bill 72 was referred to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee on February 12, 2025. The bill received a sponsor testimony hearing on March 5, 2025.
House Bill 96: Ohio Budget
House Bill 96 was introduced on February 11, 2025, by Representative Brian Stewart (R).
HB 96 is the Ohio Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
The state budget poses serious risks and will hurt Ohioans rather than provide the support we need. Republicans are set on misusing our tax dollars to undermine abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, maternal and infant health, libraries, and public education—advancing their personal agendas instead of serving the best interests of Ohioans.
Ohio Republicans are fully aware that their actions are unpopular and harmful to our communities. In 2023, 57% of Ohioans voted to enshrine reproductive freedom in the state constitution—making it clear that attacks on abortion rights go against the will of the people. Similarly, nearly 2,000 Ohioans submitted testimony opposing Republican-led efforts to undermine higher education, while only 38 spoke in favor. The message is clear: these attacks on education and reproductive rights are not what Ohioans want.
The Ohio House passed House Bill 96 on April 9, 2025. The budget will now move to the Ohio Senate.
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.