Ohio General Assembly Update May 25

Ohio General Assembly Update

With the initial committee hearings concluded and the amendment submission deadline now passed, Senate leadership has begun its review of the various budget proposals, aiming to release a substitute bill on June 3rd or 4th. The Senate Finance Committee is holding a series of hearings to accept public testimony before a sub bill is introduced and accepted, with a Senate floor vote projected for June 12. Senate leadership emphasized the importance of fiscal discipline and flagged Medicaid, including the “trigger” language for the expansion program, K-12, tax reform, and higher education as priority issues. During the Senate budget process, the Ohio Council testified before the Senate Medicaid and Health Committees and submitted written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, while also engaging lawmakers and key staff in meetings and discussions to advocate on behalf of community behavioral health providers.

Further, the Ohio Council continues to monitor legislative activity beyond the budget bill. Below are the bills we have identified during this legislative session:

HB28	ELIMINATE REPLACEMENT PROPERTY TAX LEVY AUTHORITY (MATHEWS A, HALL T) To eliminate the authority to levy replacement property tax levies.
	*Current Status:*	4/8/2025 – Passed the House; Pending in Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-28

HB58	RECOVERY HOUSING-CERTIFICATES OF NEED (PIZZULLI J, JARRELLS D) To create a certificate of need program for recovery housing residences.
	*Current Status:*	5/6/2025 - House Community Revitalization, (Second Hearing) *Ohio Council attended IP meeting to express concerns
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-58

HB96	OPERATING BUDGET (STEWART B) To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.
	*Current Status:*	5/30/2025 - Senate Finance, (Eighth Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-96

HB160	REVISE LIQUOR CONTROL, HEMP, MARIJUANA LAWS (STEWART B) To revise specified provisions of the adult-use marijuana laws and to levy taxes on marijuana.
	*Current Status:*	5/7/2025 - House Judiciary, (Third Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-160

HB172	REQUIRE PARENTAL CONSENT-MINORS' MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE (NEWMAN J) To prohibit the provision of mental health services to minors without parental consent.
	*Current Status:*	5/21/2025 - House Health, (First Hearing) *Ohio Council opposes this bill
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-172

HB219	ESTABLISH INSURER NETWORK ADEQUACY STANDARDS (DEETER K) To establish network adequacy standards for health insurers.
	*Current Status:*	5/6/2025 - House Insurance, (First Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-219

HB220	REGARDING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS (WORKMAN H) Regarding health insurance and Medicaid program prior authorization requirements.
	*Current Status:*	5/27/2025 - House Insurance, (First Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-220

HB298	LEGALIZE, REGULATE INTERNET GAMBLING (STEWART B, JOHN M) To legalize and regulate internet gambling in this state, and levy taxes.
	*Current Status:*	5/27/2025 - House Finance, (Second Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-HB-298

SB7	REGARDING INSTRUCTION-SUBSTANCE USE (JOHNSON T) Regarding instruction for public and chartered nonpublic school students in the harmful effects of substance use.
	*Current Status:*	4/30/2025 - Referred to Committee House Education *Ohio Council supports this bill
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-7

SB56	MARIJUANA-REVISE LAWS, LEVY TAXES (HUFFMAN S) To consolidate the administration of the marijuana control program and to revise the medical and adult-use marijuana laws.
	*Current Status:*	5/28/2025 - House Judiciary, (Second Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-56

SB86	REGULATE HEMP, CANNABINOID PRODUCTS (HUFFMAN S, WILKIN S) To generally prohibit the sale of intoxicating hemp products, except for sales at licensed dispensaries; to regulate drinkable cannabinoid products, and to levy taxes.
	*Current Status:*	5/7/2025 – Passed the Senate, Referred to Committee House General Government
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-86

SB138	MODIFY ADAMH SERVICES LAWS (JOHNSON T) To modify various laws regarding boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services and to impose penalties for not registering recovery housing residences.
	*Current Status:*	5/20/2025 - House Children and Human Services, (First Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-138

SB160	REGARDING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS-MEDICATION SWITCHING (LISTON B, JOHNSON T) Regarding prescription drugs and medication switching.
	*Current Status:*	4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-160

SB162	REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE RECOUPMENT (BLESSING III L) Regarding the timeframe for health insurer recoupment from health care providers.
	*Current Status:*	4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-162

SB164	REGULATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-HEALTH INSURERS (CUTRONA A) Regulate the use of artificial intelligence by health insurers.
	*Current Status:*	4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-164

SB165	PROHIBIT HEALTH INSURERS-CERTAIN CLAIM DENIALS (MANCHESTER S) To prohibit a health insuring corporation or sickness and accident insurer from reducing or denying a claim based on certain factors.
	*Current Status:*	4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-165

SB166	PROHIBIT FEES-HEALTH INSURER, MEDICAID ELECTRONIC CLAIMS (MANNING N) To prohibit fees for electronic claims submission by health insurer and the Medicaid program.
	*Current Status:*	4/2/2025 - Referred to Committee Senate Medicaid
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-166

SB197	VARIOUS CHANGES-INTERNET GAMBLING (MANNING N) To legalize internet gambling and levy taxes.
	*Current Status:*	5/28/2025 - Senate Committee on Gaming, (Third Hearing)
	*State Bill Page:*	https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA136-SB-197