The science of reading remains in Ohio’s proposed operating budget, but the House cut back on the amount of money that would be allocated toward funding the implementation.
The controversial bill that would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports and youth athletics passed by a 8-6 vote in the Higher Education Committee on Wednesday morning.
Hints of uncertainty are creeping into the Ohio House ahead of an effort toward a constitutional showdown. For the second time in as many days, the House Government Oversight committee canceled its hearing instead of voting on an August special elections measure.
The House’s version of Ohio’s operating budget gets rid of Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed state-wide merit scholarships and cuts back on the funding DeWine originally proposed to a grant program that helps students who have the highest level of financial need.
The state’s operating budget is showing progress in the areas of infant supports, including a housing pilot program to benefit pregnant people and even doula services, but a bipartisan duo in the Ohio House wants to do better.
What started as a push by state education officials for targeted reading intervention as part of the new Ohio operating budget became a dissection of private school funding and billions in COVID funding still remaining in education coffers.
An Ohio House committee took up two measures Wednesday aimed at reestablishing an August special election. Lawmakers eliminated nearly all such contests in the waning days of the last session, just a few short months ago.
Less than half a year after proclaiming August elections to be too expensive for the turnout they attract, the Senate Republican majority expanded the use of a special election this year, complete with $20 million in funding.
Bipartisan bills will be coming to both the Ohio House and Senate to help birth doulas receive the Medicaid support they need and improve maternal and infant outcomes in the state.
Both bills seeking to overhaul the Ohio Department of Education were heard in Ohio House committees last week, with opponents torching a House version and sponsors bringing forth the Senate’s measure.
Only about three months ago, Ohio lawmakers passed a wide-ranging elections bill that will require voters present a photo ID when they cast a ballot. But it didn’t start out that way. Lawmakers bolted on the photo ID requirements only at the last minute.
