We OPPOSE the culture war bills facing the Legislature, bills that prohibit teaching about race and fully serving LGBTQ students.
Ohio Senate Bill 83 - The Higher Education DESTRUCTION Act
Ohio Republican Education Assaults Are a Travesty, Wrapped in Unthinking, Immature, Petty Grievance, David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal (May 25, 2023)
Ohio Senate Passes Sweeping Higher Ed Bill Focused on Perceived Liberal Bias, Diversity, China, Laura Hancock, Cleveland Plain Dealer (May 17, 2023)
Ohio House Bill 103 to Revise the State Social Studies Standards.
Ohio K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Goes Under the Microscope, Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal (May 17, 2023)
Ohio House Lawmakers Proposing Extremist Right-Wing Rewrite of State Social Studies Curriculum, Jeanne Melvin, Ohio Capital Journal (May 17, 2023)
Bill Could Put Appointees of Ohio Lawmakers, Governor in Charge of K-12 Social Studies Standards, Karen Kasler, Ohio Statehouse News (May 15, 2023)
The following issues were introduced last year in the previous 134th Ohio General Assembly and Ohio State Board of Education.
State Board of Education Title IX Resolution
On December 13, 2022, the Ohio State Board of Education is expected to vote on Board Member Mike Toal’s revision of Member Brendan Shea’s resolution to urge local school districts to defy Title IX protections for LGBTQ students that are being proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration, potentially putting federal money for free and reduced lunch and special education in jeopardy.Resolution Condemning LGBTQ Anti-Discrimination Language Passed by Ohio’s State Board of Education: Unenforceable Measure Opposed in Hours of Testimony, Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal (December 14, 2022)
Ohio State Board of Education Passes Toned-Down Resolution Opposing Biden’s Proposed LGBTQ Protections in Title IX, Laura Hancock, cleveland.com (December 13, 2022)
Ohio State Board of Education Votes Against LGBTQ Protections for Title IX, Anna Staver, The Columbus Dispatch (December 13, 2022)
Public Education Partners’ Letter to the State Board of Education (December 11, 2022)
An Update from Honesty for Ohio Education about the Ohio State Board of Education’s Consideration and Vote Next Week on the Title IX Resolution. Board Member Brendan Shea proposed the original resolution, and a substitute resolution was then put forward by Board Member Mike Toal. The update includes the meeting schedule on Monday, December 12 and Tuesday, December 13.
Up-to-Date Information and Action Alert to Stop the State Board of Education Title IX, Anti LGBTQ+ Resolution, Honesty for Ohio Education (November 2022)
HB 322 to ban teaching about or discussion of divisive concepts including race and sex
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
HB 327 to ban teaching and materials about divisive concepts including racism and sexual orientation
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
HB 454 to ban gender affirming care for minors
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
Ohio Lawmakers Postpone Bill that Limits Health Care for LGBTQ+ Youth, Morgan Trau, Ohio Capital Journal (November 30, 2022 )
Ohio Republicans Postpone Bill Restricting Transgender Medical Care until 2023, Anna Staver & Jessie Balmert, The Columbus Dispatch (November 29, 2022)
STOP HB 454 — Protect Affirming Care for Transgender Youth, Equality Ohio (November 28, 2022)
The House Committee on Families, Aging, and Human Services held a hearing on this bill on November 16, 2022.
HB 616 to ban discussion and materials about racism, sexual orientation, and gender identity
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
HB 704 to affirm that gender identity is identifiable at birth according to DNA
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
HB 722 to ban discussion of any ‘sexually explicit’ content and establish a ‘parents bill of rights’
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
SB 361 to enable former military troops to become teachers with relaxed credentialing
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
SB 365 to include free market capitalism content in educational standards
The 134th General Assembly did not ever fully consider or schedule a vote on this bill. A new version would have to be introduced in any future Ohio General Assembly.
Please consult the website of Honesty for Ohio Education for up-to-date resources on these bills and pending legislative action. The mission of Honesty for Ohio Organization is to track these culture war bills along with press reporting and advocacy resources.