By Brittany Boulton, Vice President, Groundwork Ohio
The final days of this legislative session are pivotal for securing brighter futures for Ohio’s youngest children and their families.
The Ohio General Assembly has reconvened after the 2024 election with a flurry of committee activity. There is likely one week left in lame duck session for the 135th General Assembly, which means this is the last chance for pending legislation to pass before it must be re-introduced to the 136th General Assembly next calendar year. A reintroduction of any proposed bill means it starts from the very beginning of the process and would need to be referred to committees for hearings by the new House and Senate leaders before any testimony can take place.
Let’s dive into the legislation moving right now that has the greatest potential to impact the lives of Ohio’s young children.
At the top of Groundwork Ohio’s tracked legislation this month is House Bill 7, landmark legislation that would impact maternal and infant health outcomes if fully adopted. HB 7 has been championed by Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus). The Senate Finance Committee requested a revenue-neutral substitute version of the bill, which the committee adopted on Tuesday, December 10. This sub-bill will become the basis for further hearings and remove the previous investment components of the legislation. Remaining provisions would:
Reduce administrative burden on child care providers seeking to meet quality standards;
Require Ohio Department of Medicaid to recognize the DC 0-5 Crosswalk, which provides age-appropriate mental health diagnoses for young children;
Prioritize home visiting services for families that live in areas of the state with high infant mortality rates, as well as families most at risk for involvement with the child welfare system; and,
Greater emphasize interagency information sharing to improve program evaluation and reduce wait times for eligible Ohio families to receive services.
In addition to advocating for House Bill 7, Groundwork Ohio has been monitoring and engaging on the following bills that have seen committee activity this past month:
House Bill 570 – HB 570 received its first hearing on 12/3/2024. Sponsored by Reps. Bride Sweeney (D-Westlake) and Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), the legislation would allow for child care workers to receive categorical eligibility for child care subsidies. This would provide a financial incentive for attracting much-needed additional staff to the child care workforce.
House Bill 595 – Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) received the first hearing on this universal preschool proposal on 12/3/2024 in Ohio House Finance Committee. The bill would create a statewide, public, half-day preschool option and require all-day kindergarten for all Ohio students.
House Bill 676 – This legislation, introduced by Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati), would establish licensing for Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers to better serve families of children with complex medical needs. Groundwork Ohio provided proponent testimony for this bill on 11/26/2024 and was joined by over a dozen fellow proponent witnesses.
House Concurrent Resolution 16 – This bi-partisan initiative brought forward by Reps. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) and Anita Somani (D-Dublin) has informally passed the Ohio House and is awaiting an administrative procedure to refer the bill from Ohio House Rules & Reference Committee before moving to the Ohio Senate at the time of this writing. This resolution, which Groundwork Ohio testified in support of earlier this spring, would create significant awareness for perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and other mood disturbances. If passed, this resolution will help reduce stigma and encourage conversations that would lead more moms to potentially life-saving mental health interventions.
Senate Bill 207 - Sponsored by Senators Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), SB 207 will recognize September 19 as Stillbirth Awareness Day. Miles’ Mission championed this bill at the Statehouse and Groundwork Ohio offered proponent testimony earlier this year, recognizing the disproportionate and tragic impact of stillbirths on families of color. The bill passed out of the legislature this week and is headed to Governor DeWine’s desk for signature.
Senate Bill 273 – Groundwork Ohio offered proponent testimony on 11/13/2024 for this proposal to create a Child Care Cred program that would pilot splitting the cost for child care between an employer, a family, and the state. The bill is being sponsored by Senator Michelle Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and has a companion piece of legislation in the House, HB 610, sponsored by Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe). SB 273 also received proponent testimony from the Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, among other employers.
Our team will continue to advocate for Ohio’s youngest children at the Statehouse during these final days of the 135th General Assembly, and we will be sure to call on our network if there are opportunities for a call to action.
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