Bill Harris (R)
President
Anyone who has served with Senator Bill Harris has become familiar with the motto of his beloved US Marine Corps, “Semper Fi,” meaning always faithful, and the tenets of “servant leadership.” These principles have guided him throughout his life. As a decorated Marine, a successful small business owner, and now as President of the Ohio Senate, Senator Harris believes that it is the responsibility of leaders to put those they serve first.
[Read Complete Biography]
Senator Snapshot
| Hometown: Ashland |
| Party: Republican |
| Elected Experience: State Senator since 2000; State Representative, 1995-2000 |
| Current Term: Expires December 2010; Not eligible to run for another four-year term |
- Contact
- Committees
- Bills
- Resolutions
- Media
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Statehouse 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-8086 Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us |
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Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (Vice Chair) Legislative Service Commission (Vice Chair) Reference (Vice Chair) Rules (Chair) |
| Primary Sponsor | SB 151 |
| Primary Sponsor | SCR 16 | SR 12 | SR 13 | SR 16 | SR 20 | SR 30 | SR 45 | SR 54 |
| SR 71 | SR 72 | SR 75 | SR 95 | SR 115 | SR 139 | SR 140 | SR 147 |
| SR 148 | SR 152 | SR 158 | SR 167 | SR 175 | SR 206 | SR 207 | |
| 03.02.2010 | |
| Senator Harris named "Watchdog of the Treasury" | |
| Columbus - Senate President Bill Harris has been named a "Watchdog of the Treasury" by the United Conservatives of Ohio for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and conservative restraint during the 127th General Assembly. | |
Read more...  | |
| 02.09.2010 | |
| Harris announces state Clean Ohio funding to help revitalize an abandoned industrial site in Mt. Vernon | |
| Columbus - Senate President Bill Harris recently announced the release of nearly $300,000 in state Clean Ohio funding to support the city of Mt. Vernon in its efforts to redevelop the former American National Can Company property - approximately 44 acres along the Kokosing River. The funds were released by the State Controlling Board on Monday. | |
| Read more... | |
| 02.03.2010 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus - Regarding the Senate's passage of the Third Frontier renewal resolution, which proposes the issuance of $700 million in state bonding authority over four years to support hi-tech jobs and research, Senate President Bill Harris issued the following statement. | |
| Read more... | |
| 01.28.2010 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus - Regarding the federal funding awarded to Ohio for rail, all of the following may be attributed to Senate President Bill Harris. | |
| Read more... | |
| 01.26.2010 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus - In response to the Governor's State of the State address today, all of the following may be attributed to Senate President Bill Harris. | |
| Read more... | |
| 01.26.2010 | |
| Senate puts forth a fiscally responsible course for renewing the Third Frontier jobs bill | |
| Columbus - The Ohio Senate today passed House Joint Resolution 12 which could give Ohio voters a chance to continue the successful Third Frontier jobs program and give a boost to local infrastructure projects, all to create jobs. | |
| Read more... | |
| 12.03.2009 | |
| Senate President, House Speaker set session schedule for the first half of 2010 | |
| Columbus - Ohio Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Armond Budish today announced the Session schedule for the first half of 2010. | |
| Read more... | |
| 11.30.2009 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus - Regarding potential renewal of the Third Frontier program, Senate President Bill Harris issued the following statement. | |
| Read more... | |
| 11.18.2009 | |
| Senate Republicans offer forward-looking budget compromise that preserves more of Ohioans' income tax cut | |
| Columbus - Today Senate Republicans offered the Governor and his fellow Democrats a reasonable compromise that addresses the shortfall in state education funding, ensures Ohio taxpayers will see approximately $280 million of the tax reduction they were promised over tax years 2009 and 2010, and takes important steps toward long-term cost savings for the state that will help in balancing the next state budget when federal stimulus and other one-time funding will not be available. | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris Senate subbill synopsis Senate subbill spreadsheet Subbill draft | |
| 10.28.2009 | |
| Senator Harris calls for halt to BWC premium increases | |
| Columbus - Senate President Bill Harris sent the attached letters to William Lhota, Chairman of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation Board of Directors, and to Governor Ted Strickland. Senator Harris is calling on the Board to postpone making further changes to BWC group rating discounts that will significantly drive up costs to already-strapped Ohio employers. He is asking Governor Strickland to join him in supporting this request which will kill Ohio jobs at the very time the state should be doing everything it can to make Ohio more economically competitive. | |
| Letter to Governor Strickland Letter to Lhota | |
| 10.27.2009 | |
| Senate President Harris honored by Ohio Coalition of eSchool Families | |
 Download High Resolution Image | Columbus - The Ohio Coalition of eSchool Families recently presented their first annual Golden Apple Awards to a group of nine legislators, including local legislator Senator Bill Harris. Read more... |
| 10.21.2009 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus - Regarding passage of House Bill 318 today, Senate President Bill Harris issued the following statement. | |
| Read more... | |
| 10.05.2009 | |
| President Harris calls for repeal of VLT budget language and voter input | |
| Columbus - In light of the Governor's decision to postpone his immediate plans to install video lottery terminals (VLTs) at Ohio's horseracing tracks, on Friday, Senate President Bill Harris sent a letter to the Governor calling for a repeal of VLT language passed as part of the budget and a vote of the people should the issue be be considered in the future. | |
| Letter to the Governor | |
| 09.21.2009 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus- Regarding the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in LetOhioVote v. Brunner today, all of the following may be attributed to Senate President Bill Harris. | |
| Read more... | |
| 08.10.2009 | |
| Screening Committee recommends Shannon Jones for Senate District 7 | |
| Columbus - Senate President Bill Harris today announced that from an impressive field of candidates, a Senate screening committee is recommending State Representative Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) for appointment to the Ohio Senate in District 7. | |
| Read more... | |
| 07.31.2009 | |
| Harris expresses disappointment in MWCD pay raises during difficult economic times | |
| Columbus- Following a Columbus Dispatch story which revealed that the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District provided raises for its staff just as it begins to collect a $210 million property assessment from the residents of the 18 counties within the conservancy district, Senator Harris sent the following letter to MWCD Executive Director John Hoopingarner. | |
| Letter to MWCD Executive Director Dispatch story regarding pay raises | |
| 07.28.2009 | |
| House and Senate leaders announce session schedule for remainder of 2009 | |
| Columbus- Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Armond Budish today announced the Session schedule for the remainder of 2009. | |
| Session schedule | |
| 07.13.2009 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus- Regarding passage of the conference committee report for House Bill 1, the state budget bill, all of the following may be attributed to Senate President Bill Harris. | |
| Read more... | |
| 07.10.2009 | |
| Statement from Senate President Bill Harris | |
| Columbus- Regarding the Governor's decision to issue an executive order to authorize video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks, all of the following may be attributed to Senate President Bill Harris. | |
| Read more... | |
| 07.07.2009 | |
| President Harris urges Governor to let the voters decide on expanded gambling | |
| Columbus- Senate President Bill Harris sent the governor a proposed constitutional amendment that would let Ohio voters have the say as to whether the state should install video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks. | |
| Letter to the Governor Amendment draft | |