Civil Rights
Ohio policy areas to watch in 2020
Ohio legislators proposed more than 700 bills in 2019, with fewer than two-dozen being signed into law. That means the state senators and representatives have plenty more to do in 2020, the second and final year of the 133rd General Assembly. As we look ahead to this new year, here are five policy topics to […]
New Ohio House bill would allow judges to include party affiliation on ballot
A House Bill introduced during the holiday break would allow judges to run under party affiliation, which the sponsors of the bill say would allow voters to have more information about the candidates. House Bill 460 would allow judges races to become partisan in a general election, as opposed to the non-partisan ballot which also […]
New year, new court fight over Down syndrome abortion
The new year will bring new discussions on a law that prohibited abortions after a Down syndrome diagnosis. A panel of judges for the 6th United States Circuit Court of Appeals set a new hearing date for March 11, and a briefing schedule starting Jan. 13 in the case pitting a Cleveland women’s health clinic […]
Judge and father make the case for criminal sentencing reform bill
This is the hardest time of year for Charles “Chip” Jenkins. The holiday season makes him think of his son, Alex. “I used to enjoy Christmas,” the Medina County native said, his voice drifting off. “But now? It’s just different.” Alex died of an overdose five years ago at the age of 26. Jenkins now […]
Senators reverse course on criminal reform bill amendment
ACLU of Ohio pledges support once again on SB 3 Members of the Judiciary Committee unanimously decided to strip an amendment from Senate Bill 3 that had included stricter penalties for drug offenses under certain conditions. Those penalties came from adding language from the separate Senate Bill 55. Some proponents of SB 3 had responded […]
Gun advocates argue for removal of ‘duty to retreat’ in Ohio
A third hearing on a bill to remove the duty to retreat from a self-defense law was eventful and testy at times on Wednesday in its state Senate committee. Senate Bill 237 would expand the current law, often called the Castle Doctrine, which gives Ohio residents legal standing to use force to defend their home […]
Front license plates still needed in Ohio, police tell lawmakers
Sgt. Richard Forney has a clear reason why he believes Ohio should require two license plates on vehicles: the presence of the front plate helped his department solve the 2017 murder of Reagan Tokes. The Grove City Police Department sergeant was involved in the Tokes murder investigation. Shortly after Tokes’ body was found dead in […]
Bill on rape statutes addresses marital rape loophole
With bipartisan support on the issue of removing the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault in Ohio, legislators are hoping a bill recently introduced in the state Senate would also remove a loophole involving marital rights. Senate Bill 162 seeks to remove the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault, which currently […]
Tax credit for donors to anti-abortion pregnancy centers moves toward full Ohio House vote
A bill giving a tax credit to donors for pregnancy centers who promote carrying a pregnancy to term was approved in the state House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, moving it toward a full House vote. Supporters and critics of House Bill 297 made their cases in the fourth committee hearing on the bill, […]
U.S. House passes legislation to crack down on voter suppression
The U.S. House passed legislation on Friday that would give the federal government broader authority to police voting rights violations across the country. The bill, a top priority for House Democrats, passed by a vote of 228-187, with just one Republican — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — breaking party ranks to vote for the […]
Bipartisan state senators working to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence
Just before Thanksgiving this year, Logan resident Natalie Nutter filed for divorce from her husband, Kevin. Weeks prior, Kevin Nutter, also of Logan, pleaded guilty to violating a protection order Natalie had filed against him, which she’d received after he’d made threats against her and her family. In exchange for his guilty plea, Kevin Nutter […]
Dayton shooting, universal background checks brought up in gun reform bill hearing
Supporters of gun reform measures proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine said the legislation would be an important first step in curbing gun violence, but wouldn’t agree that universal background checks were a better solution. The Committee for Government Oversight and Reform met Wednesday to hear proponent testimony as they review Senate Bill 221, which proposes […]