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Legislative Watch – January 31, 2025

Ohio Senate Committee Holds First Hearing on Senate Bill 1
 
Despite strong opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 83 during the 135th General Assembly, the Ohio Senate reintroduced it as SB 1, sponsored by Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirkland), who also sponsored the previous bill.  This week, the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee held a hearing for sponsor and proponent testimony.  You may view the sponsor and proponent testimony at Senate Higher Education Committee Meetings | Ohio Senate.   
 
Notably, SB 1 restores the faculty strike ban for full-time faculty members from the original version of SB 83 and contains the previous collective bargaining restrictions. This includes prohibiting bargaining regarding faculty evaluations, tenure, and retrenchment (the process for reduction of force). 
 
The bill also contains language that micromanages higher education classrooms and threatens academic freedom on Ohio’s public university and college campuses.  OEA believes that these policies are best developed locally by faculty and administration determining systems that work best for their campuses, not top-down state mandates.   

OEA opposes SB 1 and continues to work with coalition partners, such as We Are Ohio, AAUP, and the Honesty for Ohio Education Coalition to coordinate actions in opposition to the bill. 

You may view the text of the bill and the OEA summary. You may also voice your concern by sending your Ohio Senator a letter by clicking here.   

We are hearing that the possible date for opposition testimony on SB 1 before the Senate Committee is Wednesday, February 12, 2025. If you are interested in submitting written or in-person testimony for this hearing and would like assistance in doing so, please contact OEA Government Relations by emailing Govtsrv@ohea.org or calling 614-227-3056.  

White House Issues Executive Orders to Steal Public School Funding to Fund Unaccountable Private School Vouchers 

Earlier this week, President Trump continued to take queues from the Project 2025 playbook when he issued two executive orders to steal funding from public schools to pay for unaccountable private school vouchers.  Under the unaccountable private school voucher order, the Federal Departments of Education, Defense, and Interior (via the Bureau of Indian Education) have been ordered by the President to issue guidance on using federal funding to support unaccountable private school voucher programs. Additionally, the order directs the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department to issue guidance on how states can use HHS funds for families to send their children to private or faith-based schools.  

OEA believes that every student in Ohio, regardless of their zip code, background, or economic status, deserves a high-quality, fully funded public school.  But unaccountable voucher programs, like those called for in Trump’s executive order and supported by the current legislative leadership the Ohio General Assembly, threaten funding for public schools. In recent comments to the press, OEA President Scott DiMauro, makes the case for funding public schools:  

“There is no reliable evidence that supports voucher programs improve student success. By design, voucher programs operate with impunity and are not subject to any meaningful oversight. Unlike public schools, private schools can limit their admission whereas public schools serve ALL students.  Public dollars belong in public schools where 90% of students attend. 

Every student deserves fully-funded public schools that give them a sense of belonging and prepare them with the life skills they need to follow their dreams and reach their full potential. Vouchers hurt public education and students.” 

President DiMauro’s remarks join those of NEA President Becky Pringle.  In advance of the administration’s directives, NEA issued the following statement making the case for opposition to Trump’s Executive Orders.  

Whether at the federal level or at the Ohio Statehouse, OEA will continue to lead the fight alongside of stakeholders and partner organizations to oppose the further expansion of unaccountable private school vouchers and for the full funding of Ohio’s public schools, because Public Education Matters.  Stay tuned for more information about how you can get involved with opposing vouchers and standing up for public schools.   

Trump Administration fires National Labor Relations Board and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Members 

Earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced the firing of a Board Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the General Counsel of NLRB, and the Democratic Members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  NEA issued a statement yesterday morning on the actions at the NLRB and the attempt to silence labor.   

OEA, in collaboration with NEA, will continue to work with labor partners and stakeholders to push back on this assault on working people.  Further, NEA will be urging Senators to press Labor Secretary-nominee Lori Chavez-deRemer (R) in her upcoming hearing about the NLRB firings. Lori Chavez-deRemer (R) previously served as the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 5th District. During her time in Congress, she worked with Democrats on various pro-labor initiatives, including supporting the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would have expanded the power of public sector unions.
 
For an archive of past Legislative Watch releases, visit the Legislative Watch archive.