Ohio is poised to become the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana after state lawmakers approved a fast-moving bill Wednesday evening in a close vote. The bill cleared the Ohio Senate on Wednesday in a bipartisan 18-15 vote. The House later agreed to the changes, sending the bill to Gov. John Kasich. Kasich has said […]
Ohio House approves online voter registration
May 25, 2016 by
Ohioans will be able to register to vote online next year under a bill passed Tuesday in the Ohio House. Secretary of State Jon Husted, who has lobbied lawmakers to allow online voter registration since 2011, supports the bill and said online registration makes voting easier and more secure and saves money. Senate Bill 63 […]
Federal judge temporarily blocks Ohio’s defunding of Planned Parenthood
May 23, 2016 by
A federal judge on Monday blocked Ohio from defunding Planned Parenthood by making the agency ineligible for state funding to pay for health care programs for the poor. Judge Michael R. Barrett of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Monday issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state from enforcing the […]
Ohio lawmakers pass bill to eliminate alcohol limit for beer
May 19, 2016 by
A bill eliminating Ohio’s alcohol limit for beer is on its way to Gov. John Kasich. Currently, beer brewed and sold in Ohio is limited to 12 percent alcohol by volume, a number breweries and craft brewers have lobbied lawmakers to raise for years. Language removing that cap was added last week to House Bill […]
Ohio House passes medical marijuana bill
May 12, 2016 by
Ohio took a big step forward Tuesday to becoming the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana. The Ohio House on Tuesday approved a bill legalizing marijuana use for people with qualifying medical conditions with a doctor’s recommendation. House Bill 523 passed in a 71-26 vote and now heads to the Senate. Rep. Stephen Huffman, the […]
Proposed medical marijuana bill would not allow smoking
May 5, 2016 by
Patients using marijuana could not smoke marijuana flowers nor use cannabis with high levels of THC under revisions expected to be made Wednesday to Ohio’s proposed medical marijuana law. State lawmakers wrestled with the idea someone would “smoke their medicine” and had initially wanted an appointed commission to decide whether Ohio would allow smoking. But […]
Ohio lawmakers to introduce, fast-track medical marijuana bill
April 14, 2016 by
State lawmakers said Wednesday they will introduce a medical marijuana bill this week, but many of the details won’t be known until months after it has passed the General Assembly. Legislative leaders said at a Wednesday press conference they plan to fast-track the bill to Gov. John Kasich before they leave town in June, ahead […]
Bill would make Ohio workers eligible for paid family leave
April 6, 2016 by
Ohioans would be eligible for paid family and medical leave under a bill introduced Tuesday in the Ohio House. Individuals could receive up to $1,000 a week for 12 weeks while caring for a family member, bonding with a new child or dealing with a health condition. The program would be paid for by employee […]
Rule changes proposed to strengthen water quality rules concerning lead
April 1, 2016 by
Ohioans would have to be notified within two days of unacceptable lead levels in their drinking water, under a proposal Gov. John Kasich plans to submit to state lawmakers. The proposed changes come months after the village of Sebring failed to notify its residents within 30 days of high lead levels in the water there. […]
Ohio Attorney General releases 2016 ‘Yellow Book’
March 15, 2016 by
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has released the 2016 edition of Ohio Sunshine Laws: An Open Government Resource Manual. The release of the manual, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Book,” coincides with the beginning of Sunshine Week. “A substantial number of public records disputes arise because one of the parties involved is not aware of […]
