Bills LOVEboldly is Following
(Updated as of September 10, 2024)
Important Note
The Ohio General Assembly is currently on recess and likely will not return until after the November 5 elections. We anticipate a lame* duck session to begin around November 12 and continue for approximately a month during which the legislature may try to move any number of bills that they have not previously passed.
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Please prepare now for an ACTIVE organizing and advocacy season during the lame* duck session. However, please refrain from taking action now. Let's get ready and hold back until the session begins.
*LOVEboldly apologies for using this term which is rooted in colonial notions and has been used to marginalized the Disabled Community. Unfortuately, "lame duck session" has become part of the political vernacular in the United States. While several groups have proposed other terms, none of these have gained much traction. LOVEboldly continues to use the term while acknowledging its impact. We hope that we and all other organizations can do better in the future.
Ohio House Bill (HB) 8
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HB8 is a school censorship bill like the "don't say gay/don't say Trans" bills proposed and enacted in other states. However, HB8 goes further and involves a vague, poorly defined process by which items can be removed from schools. HB8 would also force teachers, administrators, and school counselors to disclose to parents the gender identity and sexual orientation of students even if the student has asked that their parents not be told.
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The Saving Adolescents from Experimentation Act (formerly known as HB68)
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HB68 is a substitute bill replacing the original HB68 and HB6. It was passed by the Ohio General Assembly; vetoed by Governor DeWine; and subsequently had its veto overrode. HB68 is set to take effect on April 24, 2024. Should that happen, tt would ban gender-affirming care for Transgender youth and restrict Trans girls/young women from participating on female teams in K-12 and collegiate athletics.
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SB83
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
Senate Bill (SB) 83 is an unnessecary overhaul of teaching, learning, and administration at Ohio's colleges and universities with a particular focus diversity, equity, and inclusion initatives. Under SB83 most diversity training and outreach programs - including LGBTQ+ centers - would be banned. The bill also requires a new course requirement in US history and politics. Beyond cirriculum, SB83 makes changes to faculty and staff labor policies and the ability of staff and faculty to organize, form unions, and collectively bargain.
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HB183
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HB183 would restrict access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and other typically gendered spaces (including accommodations on overnight trips) for students, faculty, and staff in K-12 and higher education. The bill requires people to use the facility corresponding to the sex listed on their original birth certificate. It provides no clear plan for enforcement.
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HB245
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HB245 would characterize all drag performances as "adult entertainment" and require that they only occur in "adult cabarets" where no one under the age of 18 could attend. However, the bill is so poorly written that it could be applied to any Trans+ person in general, whether performing in any capacity or simply walking down the street. HB245 is eerily similar to past laws which required women and transmen to always wear at least three pieces of "female" clothing at all times.
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HB445
LOVEboldly's Stance - MIXED
HB445 would change only one word of Ohio law from "may" to "shall," but this change would require every public school district in Ohio to adopt a religious release policy.
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HB467
LOVEboldly's Stance - SUPPORT
HB467 seeks to add an exemption for Transgender candidates to an Ohio election requirement for candidates for elected office to list any former names. There is already an exemption for people who have changed their names due to marriage or divorce.
HB471
LOVEboldly's Stance - OPPOSED
HB471 seeks to allow candidates of any party to challenge any candidate regarding their former names. Currently, candidates can only challenge candidates of their own party.
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HB471 is seen as a response to HB467.
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LOVEboldly follows bills introduced in and processing through the Ohio General Assembly which involve the LGBTQIA+ community and religious issues broadly. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to follow all the bills we might like or which may be important to people in our community. We encourage people to visit the pages maintained by some of our strategic partners including:
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Equality Ohio (www.equalityohio.org)
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Honesty for Ohio Education (www.honestyforohioeducation.org)
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ACLU of Ohio (www.acluohio.org)
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Please remember that as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, LOVEboldly does not engage in lobbying and partisan politics. We choose to engage in issue-based advocacy and present our opinions here as well as links to other sources. We encourage each person to be knowledgable about bills in the Ohio General Assembly and hope that these pages will assist in that process.