Today, state Sens. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Andrew O. Brenner (R-Powell) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 255, "Esther's Law." This legislation would permit a resident of a long-term care facility to conduct electronic monitoring of their room.

State Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) will give her annual State of the District address to discuss issues affecting the community such as health care, education and transportation on Saturday, February 1 at 11 am in Parma, Ohio. This presentation to the public will include an update on Antonio's work at the Statehouse since the beginning of the 133rd General Assembly, and a Q&A period.

This week, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and state Representative Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) introduced companion legislation to allow residents of facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities to set up a video recording device in their room. The resident's family could also provide consent if the resident is not capable of doing so. The goal is to mitigate elder abuse in Ohio.

Today, Democratic lawmakers from the Cleveland-area responded to the loss of the Cleveland Department of Health's $1.5 million grant aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases in Region 3. The Cleveland delegation shares their deep concern for the danger this presents to individuals benefitting from these programs, and they request continued communication from the Ohio Department of Health.

Today, the Ohio Senate held its first hearing on Senate Bill 162, which would eliminate criminal and civil statutes of limitations for rape. If passed, the bill would also close the existing loophole that permits spousal rape. State Sens. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Sean J. O'Brien (D-Bazetta), who sponsored the bill, testified on the need to modernize Ohio's law.

Today, state Sens. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) announced the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 18. SB 18 would protect Ohioans by prohibiting law enforcement, court or corrections officials from knowingly restraining a pregnant inmate during the entirety of her pregnancy, including transport and up to six weeks of postpartum recovery.

Today at a ceremony at Lakewood High School, State Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and State Representative Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) dedicated a portion of I-90 West in Cleveland the "Governor Richard F. Celeste Highway." The naming is a result of an amendment sponsored by Antonio and Skindell to Senate Bill 86, passed at the end of 2018.

Today, Republicans in the Ohio Senate Health committee voted to advance two anti-abortion bills which the medical community say are based on false claims and misinformation.

Today, state Sen. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) sent a letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran raising concerns about the possibility of CareSource and Walgreens ending their contract.

Today, Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) announced that the Ohio Channel will stream and archive all Senate standing committees starting January 2020. State Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement: