Get to know Ohio's Republican senators.
Our success is not measured by how many bills we pass. It is measured by how much we improve the lives of the people we represent.
Watch Our Latest Update: A Pathway from Foster Care to College
The budget is one of the most significant pieces of legislation the Senate works on during the two-year legislative cycle. It invests in Ohioans and in the priorities they've told us are important. One of those priorities is helping children who age out of foster care realize their dreams of college and career training.
For any young adult, attending college and living on their own can be a daunting life transition. For those who have lived in foster care, it’s exponentially so. But we are committed to helping these students achieve their potential, with support from programs funded in the state budget to help meet their academic, social and financial needs.
When several of our state senators visited Cleveland State University recently for a committee hearing, these students and their mentors stopped by to introduce themselves and share how these programs are putting them on a path to their dreams. Watch the video to hear their stories.
For any young adult, attending college and living on their own can be a daunting life transition. For those who have lived in foster care, it’s exponentially so. But we are committed to helping these students achieve their potential, with support from programs funded in the state budget to help meet their academic, social and financial needs.
When several of our state senators visited Cleveland State University recently for a committee hearing, these students and their mentors stopped by to introduce themselves and share how these programs are putting them on a path to their dreams. Watch the video to hear their stories.
Meet Our Leaders.
The 24-member Senate Majority Caucus is led by Senate President Larry Obhof, President Pro Tempore Bob Peterson, Majority Floor Leader Matt Huffman, and Majority Whip Jay Hottinger.
Legislative Priorities.
Each of us holds fast to the oath we swore upon taking office to represent you. We did not swear to a political party, an interest group or a personal agenda. We swore to uphold the Constitution of Ohio and to work for all the people of this great state, and we are grateful and humbled by the trust you have placed in us.
Our goal is to help each Ohioan secure the opportunity to obtain their God-given potential, and this drives the policy priorities we are working on.
Our goal is to help each Ohioan secure the opportunity to obtain their God-given potential, and this drives the policy priorities we are working on.
Training Our Workforce
An important part of our growth as a state is to create stronger pathways for Ohioans to connect and train for the job opportunities of today and tomorrow. That's why we passed legislation to make Ohio's education system more responsive to the workforce demands of today.
Investing In Our Schools
Senate Republicans have funded our schools at record levels and sustaining our investment in primary and secondary education remains a top priority. Other bills we've passed help our schools invest in safety and technology improvements, as well as remove burdensome administrative mandates.
Protecting Ohioans
It's important to us to protect and support those most vulnerable among us, and we continue to work on legislation that helps victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other crimes reclaim and rebuild their lives.
Reforming Our Criminal Justice System
In addition to investing in drug treatment and addiction recovery efforts, Ohio has taken significant steps forward on criminal sentencing reforms. We are committed to finding opportunities for rehabilitation that give people a chance to turn their lives around, while at the same time protecting our communities from dangerous and repeat offenders.
Growing Our Economy and Enabling Job Creation
Eliminating bureaucracy. Reducing taxes. Improving infrastructure. Investing in education. All essential elements to Ohio's economic growth and progress. The work we have done has helped add over 500,000 new private sector jobs to our economy, lowered unemployment, and it has given us one of the most improved business climates in the nation.
Fighting the Opiate Crisis
We are committed to fighting one of the great epidemics of our time, from investing in prevention efforts and treatment programs to toughening penalties for traffickers. It's why the Senate passed a bill with harsher penalties for traffickers of deadly drugs like fentanyl, while ensuring addicts get the help they need.
Protecting Ohio's Natural Resources
Ensuring the quality of Ohio's drinking water and the long-term viability of our waterways are priorities for Senate Republicans. We are working together with the agricultural and environmental communities to protect our natural resources.
News
December 31, 2019
It is an honor to serve you as the leader of the Ohio Senate. As we finish out 2019 and prepare for the new year, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the work that we have done in t ...
October 31, 2019
COLUMBUS—Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) today announced plans to further expand broadcast coverage of the Ohio Senate&r ...
September 10, 2019
(COLUMBUS) – Members of the Ohio Senate today urged Congress to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Act (USMCA). The USMCA modernizes the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement and ...
June 24, 2019
COLUMBUS - The following is a summary of various statements issued this week in support of the Ohio Senate's state budget plan: “The Ohio Senate’s budget bill includes a much-needed incr ...
June 20, 2019
COLUMBUS- The Ohio Senate today unanimously passed the state's two-year operating budget (Am. Sub. H.B. 166), legislation that invests in Ohio's essential public services while providing significant tax relief to hard-working Ohioans and preserving key tax reforms important to Ohio's growth.
June 11, 2019
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Senate today unveiled its first draft of the state’s two-year operating budget (Sub. H.B. 166) that invests in Ohio’s essential human services while providing sig ...
May 8, 2019
COLUMBUS—State Senators Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) and Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), sponsors of Senate Bill 1 , today announced the Senate passage of their bill to reform Ohio's regulatory ...
May 2, 2019
The following column written by Senate President Larry Obhof, a Republican from Medina County, and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, a Democrat from Franklin County, was published in The Columbus D ...
April 22, 2019
COLUMBUS—Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) applauded recent announcements of record new business filings and a dropping unemployment rate as evidence that the state’s pro-growth econ ...
March 28, 2019
COLUMBUS—The Senate yesterday passed legislation sponsored by State Senators Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Bob Hackett (R-London) that will ease the employment transition for military ...
March 27, 2019
COLUMBUS—The Senate unanimously passed legislation today, sponsored by State Senators Michael Rulli (R-Salem) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), which will invest an additional $100 million ...
March 13, 2019
COLUMBUS—Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) announced Senate Bill 23 , known as the “Human Heartbeat Protection Act,” passed the Ohio Senate on Wednesday. The bill reaffirms th ...
February 22, 2019
COLUMBUS—Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) this week discussed Ohio’s efforts on criminal justice reforms at the 14th Annual John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenhiem Symposium on Crime in Ame ...
February 12, 2019
COLUMBUS – Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and members of the Senate Republican Caucus today discussed their policy priorities for the 133rd General Assembly. “Our focus con ...
January 22, 2019
As we begin the 133rd General Assembly, I value your input. I am happy to hear any ideas that you may have about how to improve our state. Please contact my office if you have questions, concerns, or ideas about any issue facing Ohio.
February 5, 2018
With unanimous, bipartisan support, the Ohio Senate today passed a plan to reform the process for drawing Ohio's congressional districts. The passage of Substitute Senate Joint Resolution 5 follows weeks of negotiations between the leadership of both parties in the General Assembly and various redistricting reform coalitions.
March 21, 2018
COLUMBUS - The Senate passed the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act today, legislation sponsored by State Senator Matt Huffman, designed to reduce the amount of unnecessary mandates and regulations affecting Ohio's public schools.
February 26, 2018
COLUMBUS-Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and Speaker of the House Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) today introduced the state's Capital Budget, a $2.62 billion investment in Ohio's infrastructure and local community projects.
GLOSSARY
of terms
of terms
What is session? What is a caucus? Find out about these and other commonly used terms related to the Ohio Senate.
