For the Ohio General Assembly, 2014 is shaping up to be a year where economic issues will be at the fore, from tweaking the state budget to proposed changes to severance and local income taxes. But state lawmakers will have a number of other issues on their plate as well when they return to the […]
New Law Starts Required Permits for Exotic Animals
January 2, 2014 by
Starting Jan. 1, Ohio residents for the first time ever must have a state-issued permit – or have applied for one – to legally own a wide array of unconventional animals, from lions to big snakes. The requirement is part of a state law passed last year after a 2011 incident in which a Zanesville […]
New Ohio Law Opens Up Birth Records for Adoptees
December 24, 2013 by
With a stroke of the pen, the state moved to open the birth records of hundreds of thousands of adopted Ohioans. Gov. John Kasich recently signed into law a bill that ultimately will allow adoptees, when they reach adulthood, to gain access to their adoption records, learn more about the medical history of their biological […]
Husted Renews Call for Online Voter Registration
December 19, 2013 by
Secretary of State Jon Husted said Wednesday that his office found nearly 300 people who are non-U.S. citizens but registered to vote in Ohio, including 17 who appear to have voted in the 2012 presidential election. Those 17 cases, including four from Cuyahoga County, have been referred to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine for possible […]
Bills Would Allow Same-Sex Couples to File Joint Ohio Tax Returns
December 19, 2013 by
Legislation from two Democratic state senators proposes a change in Ohio’s tax laws to allow same sex couples to file joint tax returns in Ohio, despite a ban in the Ohio Constitution on recognition of gay marriage. The bill, introduced by Sens. Michael J. Skindell of Lakewood and Charleta B. Tavares of Columbus, is in […]
Pelanda to Run for Re-Election to Ohio House
December 16, 2013 by
State Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) today announced her candidacy to serve as representative of the 86th House District—which includes all of Union County and portions of Marion County—during the 131st General Assembly. “I would be truly honored to continue serving the residents of the 86th District in the Statehouse, especially as we work to address […]
Bill Would Eliminate Need for License to Carry a Concealed Weapon
December 13, 2013 by
Two Republican legislators propose eliminating the license required to carry a concealed handgun in Ohio, a change one describes as an effort to put Second Amendment rights on the same footing as others in the Bill of Rights. The bill, introduced Wednesday by Reps. Ron Hood of Ashville and Matt Lynch of Bainbridge Township in […]
Ohio Expands “Move Over Law” to Protect Highway Workers
December 12, 2013 by
Wednesday the Ohio General Assembly passed Senate Bill 137, which is designed to protect the safety of construction and maintenance workers operating on Ohio roadways. The new version of Ohio’s “Move Over Law” requires motorists to slow down and, as conditions permit, shift to an adjacent lane when approaching construction, maintenance and public utilities commission […]
Two Lawmakers Urge End to Ohio Executions
December 4, 2013 by
The state’s latest scheduled execution was put on hold after an inmate asked to donate his organs with his death. Now two lawmakers from Northeast Ohio say the practice should be ended altogether. Democratic Reps. Nickie J. Antonio of Lakewood and Dan Ramos made their pitch Tuesday in a statehouse news conference. Appearing with them […]
Ohio House Passes New Gun Legislation
November 21, 2013 by
After an impassioned debate, the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation that would make sweeping changes to the state’s concealed-weapons laws, including a so-called “stand your ground” self-defense provision. With the 62-27 vote, the legislation now heads to the Ohio Senate. Supporters of House Bill 203 said it contains a number of changes […]
