The Ohio Senate unanimously approved a measure Wednesday overhauling much of the state’s energy sector. The chief goal of the proposal is to encourage investment in new, primarily gas-fired, power plants as the state’s energy demands skyrocket. But as part of the bill, lawmakers made broad changes to the way to utilities bill customers.

Opponents got their chance this month to weigh in on an Ohio Senate measure banning noncompete contracts in the state. The sponsors contend that tools like nondisclosure and nonsolicitation agreements as well as trade secrets law are more than enough to protect employers’ business and intellectual property.

An Ohio Senate Republican has reintroduced a bill to expand criminal charges of “ethnic intimidation” and define antisemitism in state law, aligning the definition with a previous executive order by Gov. Mike DeWine.

A pair of Ohio Republican state senators want intoxicating hemp products to only be sold at adult-use dispensaries — not convenience stores, smoke shops, or gas stations.

An Ohio Republican state senator has reintroduced legislation to provide tax credits for donations to anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers.

A new bill proposed by an Ohio Republican lawmaker would ban diversity and inclusion efforts in Ohio K-12 public schools.

Ohio lawmakers are introducing bills that would require high school students to take a computer science course before graduating.

A co-sponsor of a new bipartisan bill to give Ohio public school students free meals is hoping to see it included as a priority in the state’s two-year operating budget due July 1.

A bipartisan pair of Ohio lawmakers want to ban noncompete contracts as a condition of employment in the state. In response to the proliferation of those post-employment contracts, federal regulators attempted to prohibit them nationwide last April — an effort which was blocked by the courts.

Two Republican state senators in Ohio have reintroduced a measure eliminating sales tax for guns and ammunition while dangling tax incentives to lure firearm manufacturers to the state. The sponsors contend Ohio is losing out on gun sales as buyers travel to neighboring tax-free states, and that Ohio has an opportunity to add new jobs if it takes steps to attract businesses.

The Ohio Senate passed a controversial higher education bill that would overhaul the state’s public universities during Wednesday’s session. This came one day after more than 800 Ohioans submitted testimony against it. Fourteen people provided supporter testimony. The sponsor of the bill called those numbers “irrelevant.”

The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 24, sponsored by State Senators Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City), which adopts the 1905 Wright Flyer III as the official state airplane.

Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has been officially confirmed by the General Assembly as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s lieutenant governor.

Advocacy groups of all types are revving up for the new term of the Ohio General Assembly, laying out policy priorities from early childhood education to housing and brownfield remediation.

Ohio Senate President Rob McColley announced that Jane Timken has been selected to become the new Senator for the 29th District, that represents the Canton area and most of Stark County.