SNAP Cards to Humvees: Ohio Senate tackles wide-ranging agenda

From artificial intelligence to SNAP, the Ohio Senate tackled a wide range of issues. Lawmakers pushed forward bills aimed at cracking down on child exploitation, modernizing SNAP cards with anti-fraud protection, and allowing Ohioans to show off America’s military history. 

The Ohio Senate passed the following legislation on Wednesday:

• House Bill 170: This legislation, sponsored by Representatives Robb Blasdel (R-New Waterford) and Peterson (R-Sabina), establishes a framework for carbon capture and storage projects, granting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources the ability to regulate the growing industry.
• House Bill 311: Sponsored by Representatives White (D-Springfield Township) and Hoops (R-Napoleon), this legislation designates the third full week of May as “EMS week in Ohio,” to honor emergency medical service providers who put their lives on the line and give lifesaving medical care to others.
• Senate Bill 157: This bill, sponsored by Senate Lang (R-West Chester), enacts a business-friendly policy which reduces the statute of limitations for contract actions from six years to four years. The statute of limitations for actions against an oral contract has also been reduced from four years to two years.
• Senate Bill 163: Sponsored by Senators Blessing (R-Colerain Township) and Johnson (R-McDermott), this legislation creates an extra level of protection for Ohio’s children by criminalizing the creation, transmission, and possession of “simulated obscene material” depicting minors. The legislation also requires all images created using artificial intelligence to include a distinct watermark identifying that it was created using AI. As Senator Johnson said on the Senate floor, “The frightening thing is this is a thriving industry. We have to do something to protect these little children. We need to be vigilant.”

• Senate Bill 225: This bill, sponsored by Senator Manchester (R-Waynesfield), expands the Address Confidentiality Program by expanding this protection to victims, along with members of their household, of crimes that cause serious physical harm or death and those in which the victim was threatened with a deadly weapon. The legislation also allows employees of an organization that serves victims of violent crimes to assist in the Safe at Home program application process. As Senator Manchester said on the Senate floor, “A mother threatened at gunpoint by her partner should not have to fear that her address will become public information, or that continued harm may happen to her or her children.”
• Senate Bill 280: Sponsored by Senator Johnson (R-McDermott), this legislation allows Ohioans to drive a part of America’s military history, allowing Humvees to receive certification for general transportation upon passing a safety inspection by the Ohio Highway Patrol.
• Senate Bill 281: Sponsored by Senator Roegner (R-Hudson), the bill streamlines county transportation services by allowing the board of county commissioners to directly award transit franchises, rather than relying on approval from a transit board created by the board of commissioners. For counties which currently have a transit board, commissioners must give the board a 30-day notice of the intent to award a franchise.
• Senate Bill 315: Sponsored by Senators Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and Craig (D-Columbus), this legislation takes a vital step toward securing SNAP benefits from theft and fraud by upgrading and replacing current cards with those that have chips enabled.
• Senate Bill 328: This bill, sponsored by Senator Koehler (R-Springfield), expands the career development opportunities of middle and high school students by establishing a statewide career coaching framework. This ensures that students are well-equipped with the essential workforce and professional skills needed to choose a career that best meets their talents and interests. As Senator Koehler said during his sponsor testimony, “Senate Bill 328 zeros in on the qualifications needed in Ohio’s workforce and how current students can gain that information and skillset to study and work upon graduation.”

• Senate Bill 343: Sponsored by Senator Manning (R-North Ridgeville), this legislation ensures that first responders with a designated urban search and rescue team in Ohio have their workers’ compensation claims properly covered. This is done by allowing the state to cover the claims. Currently, local governments are required to cover such claims.
• Senate Bill 354: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Roegner (R-Hudson), improves Ohioans’ access to specialized medical care by entering Ohio into Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact. As a member of the compact, Ohio would create an expedited pathway for qualified professionals to obtain a license in several states.
• Senate Bill 358: Sponsored by Senator Manning (R-North Ridgeville), this bill creates a specialty license plate with a black background and white lettering that can be requested for an additional fee.
• Senate Bill 393: This bill, sponsored by Senators Timken (R-Jackson Township) and Manning (R-North Ridgeville), creates an additional penalty for criminals sexually exploiting and harming children, including through AI-generated images, and increases the penalty for the possession of explicit material depicting a minor. The legislation also increases the penalty for sex crimes involving animals and raises the age of consent to 18. As Senator Timken said on the Senator Floor, “This legislation makes common sense updates to ensure the most severe offenders see proportional sentencing.”

Memorial Day is Monday and this week the Statehouse held a moving ceremony saluting the ultimate sacrifice of Gold Star families and the brave men and women who gave their lives for freedom. Make sure to watch the KC-135 flyover from the event.

The Senate will hold its next voting session on June 3rd.